During October to December 2022, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 12,930 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 6,338 metric tons got the highest share of about 49.0 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Palawan at 4,669 metric tons with a corresponding share of 
36.1 percent to the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque of 1,923 metric tons was accounted to 14.9 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production.

A total of 10,521 metric tons of corn produced in the MIMAROPA Region were mostly yellow. This accounts to 81.4 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 94.7 percent, 93.0 percent, and 67.8 percent to the total corn production in their respective province. Meanwhile, corns produced in Romblon and Marinduque were predominantly white which accounted to 18.8 percent and 12.3 percent share of their total corn production.

Volume of corn production increased by 10.8 percent

MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 12,930 metric tons during October to December 2022 went up by 1,264 metric tons or 10.8 percent with respect to the regional production of 11,666 metric tons from fourth quarter of 2021. Occidental Mindoro led the increase in production with an additional 1,734 metric tons of corn. This was followed by Romblon with 158 metric tons of produced corn.

Yellow corns produced within MIMAROPA Region during October to December 2022 was registered at 10,521 metric tons, an 11.7 percent upsurge from 9,417 metric tons recorded from the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was contributed by the production of yellow corns from Occidental Mindoro (1,717 metric tons), and Romblon (48 metric tons).

Moreover, an increase by 160 metric tons or 7.1 percent in the production of white corns at 2,409 metric tons was observed in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 2,249 metric tons production in the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was due to the additional production of white corns from Romblon (110 metric tons), Palawan (31 metric tons), Occidental Mindoro (17 metric tons), and Oriental Mindoro (6 metric tons).

Total corn area harvested expanded by 5.7 percent 

Total area harvested for all types of corn during October to December 2022 reached 4,146 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Palawan recorded the largest area harvested at 1,845 hectares. This was followed by Occidental Mindoro at 1,436 hectares. Meanwhile, Marinduque got the smallest area harvested of 127 hectares.

Total corn area harvested in the region rose by 5.7 percent or 222 hectares compared to the recorded corn harvested area of 3,924 hectares in the fourth quarter of 2021. The posted increase was contributed by the expansion in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (294 hectares), Romblon (57 hectares), and Marinduque (7 hectares).

During October to December 2022, a 5.9 percent increase in the area harvested on yellow corns was noted. Yellow corns’ area harvested registered at 2,978 hectares in this quarter against 2,812 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The expansion in area harvested for yellow corns was contributed by Occidental Mindoro (290 hectares), Romblon (10 hectares), and Marinduque (4 hectares).

Likewise, white corns’ area harvested of 1,168 hectares during the fourth quarter of 2022 was 5.0 percent higher than the recorded area harvested of 1,112 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was due to the expansion in area harvested for white corns in Romblon (47 hectares), Oriental Mindoro (12 hectares), Occidental Mindoro (4 hectares), and Marinduque (3 hectares).

Average corn yield registered at 3.12 metric tons per hectare     

The annual average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during October to December 2022 was at 3.12 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.41 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile Marinduque’s annual average yield of 2.05 metric tons per hectare posted the lowest average yield.

With respect to the average corn yield from October to December 2021, the regional average yield went up by 4.9 percent. This was due to the increase in the yield from the provinces of Romblon (20.3 percent), Occidental Mindoro (9.5 percent), and Palawan (0.5 percent).  On the other hand, the average yield of corn declined in Oriental Mindoro and Marinduque by 17.6 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively.

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.