During January to March 2024, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 42,856 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 35,153 metric tons got the highest share of 82.0 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Palawan at 5,684 metric tons with a corresponding 13.3 percent share in the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon of 2,019 metric tons accounted for 4.7 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production. (Figure 1 and Table 1)
A total of 40,650 metric tons of corn produced in the MIMAROPA Region were yellow during the first quarter of 2024. This accounts for 94.9 percent of the total volume of corn production in the region. Yellow corns were predominantly produced in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Marinduque with a corresponding share of 98.6 percent, 90.5 percent, 81.6 percent, and 60.8 percent to the total corn production in their respective province. (Figure 2 and Table 1)
Meanwhile, corns produced in Romblon were predominantly white which accounted to an estimated share of 67.6 percent in their provincial corn production. (Figure 2 and Table 1)
Volume of corn production down by 27.6 percent
MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 42,856 metric tons during January to March 2024 was lower by 16,319 metric tons or 27.6 percent with respect to the regional production of 59,175 metric tons from the first quarter of 2023. Occidental Mindoro significantly contributed to the decrease by 16,659 metric tons or 32.2 percent cutback in the regional corn production. This was followed by an 11 metric tons downturn from Marinduque (1.8% decrease). (Figure 3 and Table 1)
During January to March 2024, the decline in the regional corn production was prominently observed on yellow corn. Yellow corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region went down significantly by 16,255 metric tons or 28.6 percent from 56,905 metric tons last first quarter of 2023 to 40,650 metric tons in the same quarter of 2024. The decrease in production was mainly contributed by Occidental Mindoro (16,533 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)
Meanwhile, white corns produced within the region during the first quarter of 2024 was registered at 2,206 metric tons, a slight 2.8 percent decrease relative to 2,270 metric tons recorded from the same quarter of the previous year. The decrease was attributed to the reduction in the production of white corns from Occidental Mindoro (126 metric tons) and Marinduque (6 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)
Total corn area harvested shrinks by 8.6 percent
Total area harvested for all types of corn during January to March 2024 reached 10,173 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 7,730 hectares with 76.0 percent share to the regional area harvested. Palawan followed at 1,747 hectares (17.2% share). Meanwhile, the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon had a combined estimated area harvested of 696 hectares or a corresponding 6.9 percent share to the regional area harvested. (Figure 5 and Table 2)
Compared to the region’s recorded harvested area of 11,134 hectares in the first quarter of 2023, the total area harvested of the region shrank by 961 hectares or a decline of 8.6 percent. The posted reduction in area harvested was mainly contributed by the shrinkage in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (1,100 hectares). (Figure 5 and Table 2)
The shrinkage in the area harvested was also contributed by the decline in the area harvested for yellow corns during January to March 2024. The 990-hectare shrinkage in the area for yellow corns was mainly contributed by Occidental Mindoro with a cutback of 1,080 hectares. (Figure 6 and Table 2)
Meanwhile, the increase in area for white corns by 29 hectares was mainly contributed by Palawan and Romblon with an expansion of 20 hectares and 18 hectares, respectively. (Figure 6 and Table 2)
Average corn yield registers at 4.21 metric tons per hectare
The average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during January to March 2024 at 4.21 metric tons per hectare, a decrease by 20.7 percent from 5.31 metric tons per hectare in the same quarter of 2023. This was contributed mainly by the decrease in the average yield in Occidental Mindoro with 22.5 percent followed by Marinduque (7.2 percent), and Oriental Mindoro (2.0 percent). Meanwhile, Romblon had a 6.0 percent increase in the average corn yield. (Figure 7 and Table 3)
(SGD) LENI R. RIOFLORIDO
Regional Director
MLLM / RRL / RSS
