Central Luzon’s Total Palay Production Decreases in the Second Quarter of 2024

The region produced 1,064.03 thousand metric tons of palay in the second quarter of 2024 recording a decrease of 2.6 percent from the 1,092.15 thousand metric tons in the same period of 2023. Central Luzon comprised 27.7 percent of the total palay production in the country and remained to be the top producer of palay. Cagayan Valley and Bicol Region followed at 20.1 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively. On the other hand, Central Visayas had the least share at 1.3 percent. (Figure 1 and Table 1)

The decrease in the volume of palay production in the region was mainly attributed to the decrease in production in the provinces of Pampanga, Aurora, Bulacan, Bataan and Tarlac. On the other hand, both Nueva Ecija and Zambales recorded an increase of 1.5 percent. (Table 2)

Almost all the palay harvested in the second quarter of 2024 was from irrigated ecosystem (99.9%). Meanwhile, only 0.1 percent came from the rainfed ecosystem. (Figure 2)

In terms of volume of palay production, the region decreased by 28.12 thousand metric tons in the second quarter of 2024 from the 1,092.15 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of 2023. Likewise, palay harvested under the irrigated and rainfed ecosystems dropped by 2.6 percent (27.83 thousand metric tons) and 29.8 percent (0.29 thousand metric tons) respectively. (Figure 3)
 

Nueva Ecija remained to be the top producing province in terms of palay production in the region with its 757.59 thousand metric tons in the second quarter of 2024. This constituted more than two-third (71.2%) of the region’s total production followed by Bulacan, Tarlac and Pampanga at 8.2 percent, 6.9 percent, and 6.0 percent, respectively. The combined production of Aurora, Bataan and Zambales comprised the remaining 7.8 percent of the total palay production in the region. (Figure 4)

ARLENE M. DIVINO
Regional Director
PSA RSSO 03

TECHNICAL NOTES

Estimates of volume of palay production are generated from the Quarterly Palay Production Survey (PPS) of which there are four survey rounds in a year, that is, January, April, July and October.

The objective of the survey is to generate estimates on palay production.  The purpose of this survey is to provide data inputs for policy and programs on rice. The reference and enumeration periods by survey round are as follows:

Definition of terms

Production – refers to the quantity produced and actually harvested during the reference period. It includes those harvested but damaged, stolen, given away, consumed, given as harvester’s share, reserved, etc. Production from seed growers is excluded from the survey.

Irrigated palay – palay area with irrigation facilities that supply water to the farm through gravity, force/power, pump, etc.

Rainfed palay – palay grown in this ecosystem has dikes that retain water and is solely dependent upon rainfall for its water supply. In this special release, production in rainfed also includes those in upland. Palay grown in upland does not have amenities for standing water. It is usually located along elevated lands, along rivers, between hills, hillsides, etc. Upland type is confined not only to high places or hillsides but also to low areas having no facilities for standing water.