During July to September 2023, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 22,717 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 13,938 metric tons got the highest share of 61.4 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Palawan at 7,388 metric tons with a corresponding 32.5 percent share in the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Marinduque of 1,391 metric tons accounted for the remaining 6.1 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

A total of 20,372 metric tons of corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region were mostly yellow during the third quarter of 2023. This accounts for 89.7 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 97.4 percent, 93.7 percent, and 80.1 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 share of 81.9 percent and 66.7 percent in their respective provincial corn production. (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Volume of corn production down by 23.0 percent MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 22,717 metric tons during July to September 2023 was lower by 6,774 metric tons or 23.0 percent with respect to the regional production of 29,491 metric tons from third quarter of 2022. Occidental Mindoro significantly contributed to the decrease by 5,521 metric tons or 28.4 percent cutback in the regional corn production. This was followed by 511 metric tons downturn from Oriental Mindoro (41.3% decrease), 459 metric tons decline from Palawan (5.9% decrease), 231 metric tons decrease from Marinduque (56.6% decrease), and 52 metric tons cutback from Romblon (9.7% decrease). (Figure 3 and Table 1)

During July to September 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 significantly by 5,764 metric tons or 22.1 percent from 26,136 metric tons last third quarter of 2022 to 20,371.5 metric tons in the same quarter of 2023. The decrease in production was mainly contributed by Occidental Mindoro (4,907 metric tons). All other provinces in the MIMAROPA Region had a share in the downturn of yellow corn production, to wit: Oriental Mindoro (475 metric tons), Palawan (350 metric tons), Marinduque (22 metric tons), and Romblon (10 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Likewise, white corns produced within the region during the third quarter of 2023 was registered at 2,345 metric tons, a 30.1 percent decrease relative to 3,355 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 (615 metric tons), Marinduque (209 metric tons), Palawan (109 metric tons), and Oriental Mindoro (36 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Total corn area harvested shrinks by 17.9 percent Total area harvested for all types of corn during July to September 2023 reached 6,123 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 3,383 hectares with 55.3 percent share to the regional area harvested. Palawan followed at 2,096 hectares (34.2% share). Meanwhile, the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon had a combined estimated area harvested of 644 hectares or a corresponding 10.5 percent share to the regional area harvested. (Figure 5 and Table 2)

Compared to the region’s recorded harvested area of 7,459 hectares in the third quarter of 2022, the total area harvested of the region shrank by 1,336 hectares or a decline by 17.9 percent. The posted reduction in area harvested was heavily 6 contributed by the shrinkage in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (1,007 hectares). Meanwhile, all other provinces in the region contributed to the combined 329 hectares cutback in area harvested. (Figure 5 and Table 2)

The shrinkage in the area harvested was also contributed by the decline in the area harvested for both yellow corns and white corns during July to September 2023. The 866-hectare shrinkage in area for yellow corns was heavily contributed by Occidental Mindoro with a cutback of 700 hectares. Oriental Mindoro and Palawan followed with a reduction in the area harvested by 82 hectares and 79 hectares, respectively. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

Likewise, the reduction in area for white corns by 469 hectares was heavily contributed by Occidental Mindoro with a cutback of 306 hectares. Marinduque and Romblon followed with a cutback in the area harvested by 66 hectares and 46 hectares, respectively. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

Average corn yield registers at 3.71 metric tons per hectare       

The average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during July to September 2023 was estimated at 3.71 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.12 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile, Marinduque’s annual average yield of 1.90 metric tons per hectare posted the lowest average yield among provinces in the region. 
(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.