During October to December 2021, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 11,666 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Palawan’s corn production of 4,800 metric tons got the highest share of about 41.1 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Occidental Mindoro of 4,604 metric tons with a corresponding 39.5 percent share in the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque of 2,262 metric tons was accounted to 19.4 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production.

A total of 9,417 metric tons of corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region were mostly yellow. This accounts to 80.7 percent of the total volume of corn production in the region. Yellow corns were predominantly produced in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan with corresponding share of 95.2 percent, 93.0 percent, and 69.4 percent to the total corn production in their respective province. Meanwhile, corns produced in Romblon and Marinduque were predominantly white which accounted to 93.8 percent and 87.2 percent share of their total corn production.

Volume of corn production decreased by 8.0 percent

MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 11,666 metric tons during October to December 2021 was lower by 1,011 metric tons or 8.0 percent with respect to the regional production of 12,677 metric tons from fourth quarter of 2020. The decrease was contributed by 1,282 metric tons or 21.1 percent cut back in Palawan and 
166 metric tons or 53.2 percent decline in Romblon.

White corns produced within MIMAROPA Region during October to December 2021 was registered at 2,249 metric tons, a 43.2 percent decline relative to 3,956 metric tons recorded from the same quarter of the previous year. The decrease was contributed by the cut back of white corn production from Occidental Mindoro (1,315 metric tons), Palawan (368 metric tons), and Romblon (124 metric tons).

Meanwhile, an increase by 696 metric tons in the production of yellow corn at 9,417 metric tons was observed in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 8,721 metric tons production in the same quarter of the previous year. The upsurge was due to the additional production of yellow corns from Occidental Mindoro (1,676 metric tons) and Marinduque (29 metric tons).

Total corn area harvested shrank by 10.3 percent 

Total area harvested for all types of corn during October to December 2021 reached 3,924 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Palawan recorded the largest area harvested at 1,907 hectares. Occidental Mindoro closely followed at 1,142 hectares. Meanwhile, Romblon got the smallest area harvested of 78 hectares.

Total area harvested of the region experienced a decline by 10.3 percent or 449 hectares compared to the recorded harvested area of 4,373 hectares in the fourth quarter of 2020. The posted reduction was contributed by the drop in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (272 hectares), Palawan (148 hectares), and Romblon (89 hectares).

During the October to December 2021, a significant decline of 38.9 percent in the area harvested on white corns was noted. White corns’ area harvested registered at 1,112 hectares in this quarter compared to 1,821 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The shrinkage in area harvested for white corns was contributed by Occidental Mindoro (608 hectares), Romblon (79 hectares), and Palawan (60 hectares).

In contrast, yellow corns’ area harvested of 2,812 hectares during the fourth quarter of 2021 was 10.2 percent higher than the recorded area harvested of 2,552 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was due to the additional area harvested for yellow corns in Occidental Mindoro (336 hectares), Oriental Mindoro (14 hectares), and Marinduque (8 hectares).

Average corn yield reached 2.97 metric tons per hectare 

The annual average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during October to December 2021 was at 2.97 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.03 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile Romblon’s annual average yield of 1.87 metric tons per hectare posted the lowest average yield.

With respect to the average corn yield from October to December 2020, the provincial average yield of Occidental Mindoro and Marinduque posted a significant increase by 34.4 percent and 29.3 percent, respectively.  On the other hand, the average yield of corn for the provinces of Palawan and Oriental Mindoro exhibited a decline by 15.0 percent and 6.3 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.