ILOILO – Western Visayas’ total palay production in the second quarter of 2023 was estimated at 129,475.94 metric tons (MT) — 3.82 percent or 5,142.82 MT less compared last year.
Likewise, the total area harvested is estimated at 41,833 hectares (ha), 7.51 percent lower than in 2022.
Production refers to the quantity produced and actually harvested of crop during the reference period. Estimates were taken from the Palay Production Survey.
Area harvested, meanwhile, refers to the total area harvested to palay during the reference quarter. It may be less than or equal to the total area planted to palay.
Total irrigated palay production decline by 10.39 percent with 75,420.98 MT.
However, the total rainfed palay production rose by 7.14 percent with 54,054.96 MT.
By ecosystem, irrigated and rainfed harvested areas decreased by 11.52 percent and 2.13 percent, or a reduction of 2,988.05 ha and 410.69 ha, respectively.
Irrigated refers to areas with irrigation facilities supplying water through artificial means like gravity, force or power and pump, among others.
Rainfed refer to areas which has dikes that retain water and is solely dependent upon rainfall for its water supply.
Among provinces in the region, Capiz shared 41.8 percent of the total palay production for the second quarter of 2023. Capiz also contributed the highest palay area harvested with 17,998 ha with a growth rate of 1.43.
Negros Occidental followed with 26.3 percent share and Antique with 13.0 percent share.
Guimaras shared the least proportion at 1 percent.
Meanwhile, Iloilo reported a decrease of 29.11 percent in the total palay area harvested in the region with 4,793 hectares from 6,761 hectares in the same period last year.(PSA)/PN
