The total volume of palay production in the MIMAROPA Region for 2023 was estimated at 1,210,384 metric tons. Among the provinces in the region, Palawan’s palay production of 461,925 metric tons accounted for the highest share, at about 38.2 percent of the regional production. This was followed by Oriental Mindoro, with a production of 365,449 metric tons (30.2% share), and Occidental Mindoro, with 327,746 metric tons (27.1% share). Meanwhile, the combined palay production from Romblon and Marinduque, totaling 55,263 metric tons, accounted for a 
4.6 percent share of MIMAROPA’s total palay production. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

Palay produced in the MIMAROPA Region was predominantly grown and harvested from irrigated ecosystems, totaling 889,478 metric tons. This accounts for 73.5 percent of the total volume of palay production in the region. Among the provinces, the largest share of palay production from irrigated ecosystems was in Oriental Mindoro, at 85.4 percent. Other provinces in the region where palay production was predominantly grown and harvested from irrigated ecosystems during 2023 include Occidental Mindoro (79.4%), Palawan (61.8%), Marinduque (59.2%), and Romblon (56.3%). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

Volume of palay production down by 1.7 percent

The MIMAROPA Region’s palay production of 1,210,384 metric tons in 2023 was lower by 21,429 metric tons, or 1.7 percent, than the estimated 1,231,813 metric tons produced in the previous year. Among the provinces, Occidental Mindoro posted the largest decline, with a decrease of 34,552 metric tons, or 9.5 percent, from the estimated production of 362,298 metric tons in 2022. Oriental Mindoro followed with a decrease of 13,056 metric tons, or 3.5 percent, relative to its production of 
378,505 metric tons in 2022. (Figure 3 and Table 1)

Moreover, palay production from the rainfed ecosystem in 2023 totaled 320,906 metric tons, which represents a decrease of 10.2 percent, or 36,509 metric tons, from the region’s estimated 357,415 metric tons in the previous year. This decline was attributed to decreases in production from Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon. Occidental Mindoro showed a reduction of 42,412 metric tons (38.6% decline) from the estimated 110,001 metric tons produced in 2022. Oriental Mindoro experienced a cutback of 2,259 metric tons (4.1% decline), and Romblon posted a decrease of 1,705 metric tons (9.4% decline) from the estimated 18,084 metric tons produced in 2022. (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Meanwhile, palay production from the irrigated ecosystem in 2023 exhibited a 1.7 percent increase, reaching 889,478 metric tons, up from 874,398 metric tons in 2022. This increase was attributed to the rise in palay production from irrigated farms in Palawan (18,406 metric tons), Occidental Mindoro (7,861 metric tons), and Romblon (454 metric tons). (Figure 4 and Table 1)

Total palay area harvested contracts by 1.4 percent

The total area harvested for all palay ecosystems in 2023 in the MIMAROPA Region reached 310,185 hectares. Among the provinces, Palawan recorded the largest area harvested, at 117,460 hectares, which translates to a 37.9 percent share of the regional area harvested. Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro followed, with corresponding estimated areas harvested of 101,294 hectares (32.7% share) and 75,418 hectares (24.3% share), respectively. Meanwhile, the areas harvested from Romblon and Marinduque lagged at 10,458 hectares (3.4% share) and 5,555 hectares (1.8% share), respectively. (Figure 5 and Table 2)

The regional total area harvested exhibited a 1.4 percent decrease, representing a reduction of 4,480 hectares compared to the recorded harvested area of 314,665 hectares in 2022. Occidental Mindoro led in the decrease of the region’s area of land on which palay was grown and harvested, with a reduction of 10,207 hectares. Other provinces with a reported shrinkage in the area harvested in 2023 include Oriental Mindoro (300 hectares), Marinduque (269 hectares), and 
Romblon (47 hectares).(Figure 5 and Table 2)

In 2023, the area harvested from the region’s rainfed ecosystem decreased by 7,604 hectares, or 7.6 percent, compared to the estimated 100,679 hectares in 2022. Occidental Mindoro (9,975 hectares), Romblon (469 hectares), and Marinduque (100 hectares) contributed to the reduction in the area harvested. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

On the other hand, a slight increase in the region’s area harvested from irrigated ecosystems was noted compared to 2022. A total of 3,124 hectares were added to the harvested area of irrigated ecosystems, which translates to an increase of 1.5 percent. The increase in the area harvested was attributed to Palawan (3,807 hectares) and Romblon (422 hectares). (Figure 6 and Table 2)

Average palay yield registered at 3.90 metric tons per hectare    

The annual average palay yield of the MIMAROPA Region in 2023 was recorded at 3.90 metric tons per hectare. Among the provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan exceeded the regional average yield, with yields of 4.35 metric tons per hectare and 3.93 metric tons per hectare, respectively. Meanwhile, Marinduque’s annual average yield of 3.21 metric tons per hectare was the lowest in the region. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

With respect to the average palay yield in 2023, the regional average yield decreased by 0.3 percent. This decline was attributed to the decrease in average yields in Oriental Mindoro (3.2%), Romblon (2.8%), and Marinduque (1.3%). 
(Figure 7 and Table 3)

(SGD) LENI R. RIOFLORIDO
Regional Director

MLLM / RRL / JPR