The total volume of palay production in the MIMAROPA Region for the period October to December 2024 was estimated at 585,815 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s palay production of 210,408 metric tons got the highest share of about 35.9 percent in the regional production of palay. This was followed by the production from Palawan at 187,847 metric tons (32.0%) and Oriental Mindoro at 162,268 metric tons (27.7%). Meanwhile, the combined palay production from Romblon and Marinduque of 25,291 metric tons accounted for 4.3 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total palay production. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

Palay produced in the MIMAROPA Region were predominantly grown and harvested from irrigated ecosystem at 405,259 metric tons. This accounts to 69.2 percent of the total volume of palay production in the region. Among provinces, the largest share of palay production from irrigated ecosystem was in Oriental Mindoro at 85.5 percent. Other provinces in the region whose palay production was predominantly grown and harvested from irrigated ecosystem during the fourth quarter of 2024 were Occidental Mindoro (69.6%), Palawan (57.0%), Marinduque (52.5%), and Romblon (50.8%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Volume of palay production up by 0.4 percent

MIMAROPA Region’s palay production of 585,815 metric tons from October to December 2024 was slightly higher by 2,071 metric tons or 0.4 percent than the estimated 583,744 metric tons of palay produced in the same quarter of 2023. Among provinces, Occidental Mindoro posted the largest increase of 3,454 metric tons or 1.7 percent increase from the estimated 206,955 metric tons production in the fourth quarter of 2023. Palawan followed with an increase of 2,169 metric tons or a 1.2 percent increase relative to their respective production of 185,678 metric tons relative to the same quarter of 2023. Marinduque ranked third with an increase of 1,502 metric tons (33.3% increase) from the same quarter of 2023. Only the province of Oriental Mindoro recorded a cutback of 6,330 metric tons equivalent to a 3.8 percent decrease from the 168,598 metric tons production in the same quarter of 2023. (Figure 3 and Table 1)

Palay production from the rainfed ecosystem in the fourth quarter of 2024 at 180,556 metric tons increased by 2.4 percent or 4,269 metric tons higher than the region’s estimated total production of 176,287 metric tons during the same quarter of the previous year. This was contributed by 1,797 metric tons increase in the palay production from Occidental Mindoro, and 1,693 metric tons expansion from Romblon’s palay production. (Figure 4 and Table 1)

On the other hand, palay grown and harvested from irrigated ecosystem during October to December 2024 exhibited a 0.5 percent decrease at 405,259 metric tons from 407,457 metric tons during the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was contributed by the cutback in the production of palay from irrigated farms in Oriental Mindoro (5,252 metric tons), and Romblon (418 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Total palay area harvested expands by 2.5 percent

The total area harvested for all palay ecosystems during October to December 2024 in the MIMAROPA Region reached 155,945 hectares. Among provinces, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 52,240 hectares, which translates to a 33.5 percent share to the regional area harvested. Palawan and Oriental Mindoro followed with corresponding estimated area harvested of 48,692 hectares (31.2%) and 47,839 hectares (30.7%). Meanwhile, the area harvested from Romblon and Marinduque lagged at 5,319 hectares (3.4%) and 1,855 hectares (1.2%), respectively. (Figure 5 and Table 2)

The regional total area harvested exhibited a 2.5 percent increase or an expansion by as much as 3,864 hectares compared to the recorded harvested area of 152,081 hectares from the fourth quarter of 2023. Occidental Mindoro led in the increase of the region’s area of land on which palay were grown and harvested with more than 2,772 hectares. Palawan and Oriental Mindoro followed with a reported increase of 330 hectares and 284 hectares, respectively. (Figure 5 and Table 2)

During October to December 2024, the area harvested from the region’s irrigated ecosystem slightly went up by 3,017 hectares or 3.0 percent higher than the estimated 101,014 hectares in the fourth quarter of 2023. Occidental Mindoro (2,294 hectares) and Oriental Mindoro (749 hectares) contributed to the increase in the area harvested. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

Moreover, a slight increase in the region’s area harvested on rainfed ecosystems was noted relative to the fourth quarter of 2024. A total of 847 hectares were increased from the rainfed ecosystem’s area harvested, which translates to an increase by 1.7 percent. The increase in the area harvested was contributed mainly by Romblon (490 hectares) and Occidental Mindoro (478 hectares). (Figure 6 and Table 2)

Average palay yield registered at 3.76 metric tons per hectare    

The annual average palay yield of the MIMAROPA Region during October to December 2024 was registered at 3.76 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan exceeded the regional average yield at 4.03 metric tons per hectare and 3.86 metric tons per hectare, respectively. Meanwhile, Marinduque posted the lowest average yield of 3.24 metric tons per hectare. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

With respect to the average palay yield during the fourth quarter of 2024, the regional average yield decreased by 2.1 percent. This was contributed by the decrease in the average yield in Oriental Mindoro (4.3%), and Occidental Mindoro (3.7%). (Figure 7 and Table 3)

(SGD) LENI R. RIOFLORIDO
Regional Director

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