Rice production in Aklan declined in 2016

BY PETER S. MANGILOG

Aklan’s volume of rice production declined by 5 percent in 2016, according to the latest report of Philippine Statistics Authority-Aklan (PSA-Aklan).

Data showed that Aklan produced 101,471 metric tons last year compared to 106,329 metric tons in 2015. The production accounted for almost seven percent of the region's total production during the year with 1.4 million metric tons.

Meanwhile, yield per hectare of rice declined by 6 percent from 3.28 MT in 2015 to 3.09 MT in 2016. Of the total rice production during the year, 57 percent (57,935 MT) were produced from irrigated farms lands while 43 percent (43,536 MT) were from rainfed farms.

On the other hand, corn production in Aklan inched up by 11 percent from 2,431 metric tons in 2015 to 2,688 metric tons in 2016.

Yield per hectare increased by 3 percent to 2.13 MT in 2016 from 2.07MT a year ago. The production accounted for almost 2 percent of Western Visayas production with 154,000 MT.

Of the two types of corn, yellow corn has the highest production with 78 percent (2,090 MT) while white corn comprised 22 percent (598 MT).

White corn are used primarily for human consumption, while yellow corn are used generally as feed grains.

The area harvested for corn in 2016 was estimated at 1,262 hectares, or 8 percent higher compared to 1,172 hectares reported in 2015.

According to Provincial Statistics Officer Antonet Catubuan, the data were derived from Palay and Corn Production Survey (PCPS) conducted quarterly to get data on rice and corn production, area and yield, and other production-related statistics.