In 2024, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 106,008 metric tons. Among the provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 79,408 metric tons accounted for the highest share at 74.9 percent of the region's total corn production. This was followed by Palawan, which produced 18,933 metric tons, representing a 17.9 percent share of the region's total corn production. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque, totaling 7,667 metric tons, accounted for a 7.2 percent share of MIMAROPA’s total corn production. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

A total of 98,031 metric tons of corn produced in the MIMAROPA Region were yellow in 2024. This accounted for 92.5 percent of the total volume of corn production in the region. Yellow corn was predominantly produced in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan, with corresponding shares of 98.2 percent, 95.4 percent, and 75.9 percent of the total corn production in their respective provinces. (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Meanwhile, corn produced in the provinces of Romblon and Marinduque was predominantly white, accounting for an estimated share of 72.5 percent and 61.7 percent, respectively, in their provincial corn production. (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Volume of corn production reduces by 15.4 percent

The MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 106,008 metric tons in 2024 was lower by 19,317 metric tons, or 15.4 percent, compared to the production of 125,326 metric tons in 2023. Occidental Mindoro significantly contributed to this decrease with a reduction of 19,982 metric tons, or 20.1 percent decline relative to its annual production in the previous year. Other provinces that contributed to the downturn of corn production in the region were Romblon with 307 metric tons (19.1% decrease), Marinduque with 78 metric tons (5.7% decrease), and Palawan with 35 metric tons (0.2% decrease). (Figure 3 and Table 1)

In 2024, the decline in regional corn production was prominently observed in yellow corn. It decreased significantly by 17,692 metric tons, or down by 15.3 percent from 115,723 metric tons in 2023 to 98,031 metric tons in 2024. The decrease in production was mainly due to Occidental Mindoro, which contributed a reduction of 18,505 metric tons. (Figure 4 and Table 1)

In addition, white corn produced within the region in 2024 was recorded at 7,977 metric tons, representing a 16.9 percent decline from 9,603 metric tons in 2023. The decrease was attributed to the reduction in the production of white corn from Occidental Mindoro (1,477 metric tons), Oriental Mindoro (79 metric tons), Romblon (46 metric tons), and Marinduque (33 metric tons).  (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Total corn area harvested shrinks by 6.6 percent

The total area harvested for all types of corn in 2024 reached 26,969 hectares. Among the provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 18,285 hectares. This accounts to a 67.8 percent share of the regional area harvested. Palawan’s area harvested followed with 6,122 hectares or a corresponding share of 22.7 percent. Meanwhile, the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque had a combined estimated area harvested of 2,563 hectares, corresponding to 9.5 percent share of the regional area harvested. (Figure 5 and Table 2)

Compared to the region’s recorded harvested area of 28,862 hectares in 2023, the total area harvested in the region shrank by 1,893 hectares, or a decline of 6.6 percent. This reduction in the area harvested was mainly due to the decrease in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (1,959 hectares). (Figure 5 and Table 2)

The shrinkage in the area harvested was also due to the decline in the area harvested for both yellow and white corn. The decrease in the area for both types of corn was mainly attributed to Occidental Mindoro, which experienced a cutback of 1,380 hectares in yellow corn’s area and 579 hectares in white corn’s area. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

Average corn yield registers at 3.93 metric tons per hectare    

The average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region in 2024 was recorded at 3.93 metric tons per hectare. Among the provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.34 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile, Romblon’s annual average yield of 2.67 metric tons per hectare was the lowest in the region.  (Figure 7 and Table 3)

The regional average corn yield decreased by 9.5 percent or 0.41 metric ton per hectare from the 4.34 metric tons per hectare in 2023. This decline was due to the reduction in average yield in Occidental Mindoro by 0.57 metric ton per hectare (11.5% decline), Romblon by 0.19 metric ton per hectare (6.7% decline), Marinduque by 0.15 metric ton per hectare (5.1% decline) and Palawan by 0.03 metric ton per hectare (0.9% decline). Meanwhile, Oriental Mindoro experienced a 0.51 metric ton per hectare or 19.2 percent uptrend in average corn yield among provinces in the region.

(SGD) LENI R. RIOFLORIDO
Regional Director

MLLM / RRL / JPR