During April to June 2023, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 32,129 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 29,075 metric tons got the highest share of 90.5 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Palawan of 1,589 metric tons with a corresponding 5.0 percent share in the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Marinduque of 1,464 metric tons accounted for the remaining 4.6 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

A total of 30,184 metric tons of corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region were mostly yellow during the Second Quarter of 2023. This accounts for nearly 94.0 percent of the total volume of corn production in the region. Yellow corns were predominantly produced in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan, with corresponding share of 97.0 percent, 89.6 percent, and 60.9 percent to the total corn production in their respective province.  (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Meanwhile, corns produced in Marinduque and Romblon were predominantly white which accounted to an estimated 69.3 percent share and 51.4 percent share in their respective provincial corn production. (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Volume of corn production down by 10.7 percent

MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 32,129 metric tons during April to June 2023 was lower by 3,854 metric tons or 10.7 percent with respect to the regional production of 35,983 metric tons from Second Quarter of 2021. Occidental Mindoro significantly contributed to the decrease by 3,470 metric tons or 10.7 percent decline in the regional corn production. This was followed by 349 metric tons cutback from 
Romblon (66.6% decrease), 157 metric tons decline from Palawan (9.0% decrease), and 24 metric tons cutback from Oriental Mindoro (2.5% decrease). (Figure 3 and Table 1)

During April to June 2023, the decline in the regional corn production was noted on both white and yellow corns. Yellow corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region went down by 2,144 metric tons or 6.6 percent from 32,328 metric tons last Second Quarter of 2022 to 30,184 metric tons in the same quarter of 2023. The decrease in production was mainly contributed by Occidental Mindoro (1,998 metric tons) and was followed by Palawan (175 metric tons), and Romblon (92 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Likewise, white corns produced within the region during the Second Quarter of 2023 was registered at 1,945 metric tons, a 46.8 percent decrease relative to 3,655 metric tons recorded from the same quarter of the previous year. The decline was contributed by cutback in the production of white corns from Occidental Mindoro (1,472 metric tons), Romblon (257 metric tons), and Oriental Mindoro (33 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Total corn area harvested shrinks by 4.7 percent 

Total area harvested for all types of corn during April to June 2023 reached 
7,623 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 6,687 hectares with 87.7 percent share to the regional area harvested. Palawan followed at 521 hectares (6.8% share). Meanwhile, the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon had a small contribution in the regional area harvested at 265 hectares (3.5% share), 91 hectares (1.2% share), and 
60 hectares (0.8% share), respectively. (Figure 5 and Table 2)

Compared to the region’s recorded harvested area of 7,996 hectares in the Second Quarter of 2022, the total area harvested of the region shrank by 373 hectares or a decrease by 4.7 percent. The posted reduction in area harvested was contributed by the decline from Occidental Mindoro (253 hectares), Romblon (113 hectares), Palawan (36 hectares), and Oriental Mindoro (6 hectares). (Figure 5 and Table 2)

The estimated 486-hectare shrinkage or 37.0 percent decline in the area harvested on white corns during April to June 2023 was noted with respect to the same quarter of 2022. This was heavily contributed by Occidental Mindoro with a cutback of 
398 hectares. Romblon and Oriental Mindoro followed with a reduction in the area harvested 95 hectares and 10 hectares, respectively. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

Average corn yield registers at 4.21 metric tons per hectare       

The annual average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during April to June 2023 was estimated at 4.21 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.35 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile, Romblon’s annual average yield of 2.92 metric tons per hectare posted the lowest average yield among provinces in the region. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

With respect to the average corn yield from the Second Quarter of 2022, the regional average yield went down by 6.4 percent. This was contributed by the decline in the average yield in Occidental Mindoro (7.3% change), Romblon (3.7% change), Palawan (2.8% change), and Oriental Mindoro (0.4% change). Meanwhile, only the province of Marinduque exhibited a 4.0 percent rise in their respective provincial yield from 3.82 metric tons per hectare in the Second Quarter of 2022 to 3.98 metric tons per hectare in the same quarter of 2023. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

TECHNICAL NOTES

Corn Production Survey (CPS) is a major quarterly agricultural survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Its main objective is to generate estimates on corn production, area, yield, and other production-related data. Production data from this survey serves as direct inputs in the value of production in the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries, and to the computation of the Gross Domestic Product. In addition, this survey also supports the data needs of planners, policy and decision makers on corn, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, particularly the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies such as Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), and the general public.

Data gathered in CPS are as follows: (1) production, area planted / harvested and yield by type of corn and by seed type; (2) usage of seeds, fertilizer and pesticides; 
(3) source of irrigation water and adequacy, monthly distribution of production and area harvested; (4) farm household disposition of production; and (5) area with standing crop, farmer’s planting intention for the quarter.

Definition of Terms

Corn production refers to the quantity of corn produced and actually harvested during the reference period. It includes those harvested but damaged, stolen, given away, consumed, given as harvesters’ and thresher’s shares, reserved, etc. Corn production from seed growers which are intended for seed purposes is excluded from the survey.

Two types of corn harvested are considered in corn production. These are as follows:

1.  White corn is a type of corn used primarily for human consumption. 

2.  Yellow corn is generally used as feed grains. It includes all types of corn other than white corn. 

Area harvested refers to the actual area from which harvests are realized. This excludes crop areas which were totally damaged. The harvest area refers to the effective area on corn where harvesting is done during the reference quarter.

Yield is an indicator of production derived by dividing the total production by the area harvested.