July 12, 2013 NORTHERN Mindanao posted a flat production of palay and a decline in corn production in the first quarter of 2013, the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) reported Thursday. Engr. Cecilio Y. Clarete of Neda said palay production only posted 143,179 metric tons which barely matched the first quarter output in 2012 despite the increase in harvest from areas both irrigated and rain-fed. Clarete said that typhoon Pablo that hit Mindanao in December 2012 caused the decline in the production since the agricultural province of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental were among those badly hit by strong winds. He said Bukidnon is the biggest source of palay production in the region. “The rice already grew but it was intensely swayed by the strong winds and so the produce was not that good,” he said. According to the data from Neda, the average yield per hectare declined from 3.97 metric tons per hectare last year to 3.88 metric tons per hectare this year, as both irrigated and rain-fed areas experienced declining yields. However, Clarete said despite the flat growth production, the 4.25 percent increase in price pulled the total value of palay, which reached P2.491 million during the first quarter of 2013, a 4.3 percent increase compared with 2012. Data also showed Misamis Occidental posted 19 percent increase compared with the negative performances of the rest of the provinces. Misamis Occidental posted an 18.37 percent increase and 48 percent increase in irrigated and rain-fed areas, respectively. The increase, Clarete said, was due to the re-cultivation of areas under the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) canal in the municipalities of Aloran and those idle areas in Bonifacio, both in Misamis Occidental. However, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental production decreased by 8.1 percent “due to insufficient water and reduction in areas harvested.” Meanwhile, a decline of 23 percent was also noted in corn production during the first quarter of 2013 in all provinces within the region. Clarete said the decline was due to the dry spell that was experienced toward the later part of the quarter. “The provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and the western part of Misamis Oriental were affected both by Typhoon Pablo and the dry spell toward the later part of the quarter,” he said. He said production in Bukidnon declined by 28 percent as yellow corn production decreased by 32 percent.goverment organization
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 19:24:59 +0000
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