Ilocos Region palay production drops

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CALASIAO, Pangasinan — The Ilocos Region experienced a modest decline in palay (unmilled rice) production in 2024, slipping by 1.2 percent to 1,967,134 metric tons from 1,990,287 metric tons in 2023, according to a recent report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) regional office.

Despite the drop, the region maintained its standing as the third-largest rice producer in the country, contributing 10.3 percent to the national output.

According to the PSA Palay Production Survey last year, Central Luzon led with 18.2 percent of the total national production, followed by Cagayan Valley (15.3 percent), and Ilocos Region (10.3 percent).

Other key contributors included Western Visayas (9.9 percent), Soccsksargen (6.4 percent), and the rest of the regions combined at 39.9 percent.

In terms of productivity, the Ilocos Region ranked second nationwide in yield per hectare, averaging 4.81 metric tons. This was slightly lower than the 4.84 metric tons per hectare posted in 2023.

The region's total harvest area also saw a slight contraction, down from 410,925 hectares to 408,569 hectares.

Most of the region's rice output came from irrigated areas, which accounted for 71.3 percent or 1,403,373 metric tons. This was lower than the 2023 figure by 17,975 metric tons.

Rainfed farms contributed the remaining 28.7 percent or 563,761 metric tons — also slightly down from 568,939 metric tons the year prior.

Among the four provinces in the region, Pangasinan remained the top rice producer in 2024, contributing 61.7 percent to the regional total.

However, its palay output slipped from 1,231,638 metric tons in 2023 to 1,213,670 metric tons in 2024. The province's yield per hectare also dipped slightly to 4.74 metric tons from 4.77, while its harvested area contracted by 0.7 percent — from 258,100 hectares to 256,212 hectares.

Ilocos Norte was the only province in the region to record an increase in production. It produced 341,889 metric tons in 2024, up by 0.9 percent from 338,681 metric tons the previous year.

The increase took place despite a slight decrease in harvested area — from 65,069 to 64,864 hectares. The province also saw an improvement in yield per hectare, which rose from 5.20 to 5.27 metric tons.

Ilocos Sur contributed 12.2 percent to the region's total production with 239,286 metric tons, down from 246,076 metric tons in 2023. Its harvested area slightly declined by 0.5 percent, and average yield per hectare fell from 4.99 to 4.87 metric tons.

La Union, which accounted for 8.7 percent of the region's total output, also saw a minor drop in production. From 173,892 metric tons in 2023, its output fell to 172,290 metric tons. Harvest area shrank marginally to 38,399 hectares, and yield dipped to 4.49 metric tons per hectare from 4.52.