By Francis Allan L. Angelo
In 2023, Western Visayas, a key agricultural region of the Philippines, reported a 2.5% decrease in palay (unmilled rice) production, yielding an estimated 2,263,158.3 metric tons, which is 58,435.4 metric tons less than the previous year.
Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), this decline was mirrored in the area harvested, which also saw a 2.2% reduction, totaling 666,296.0 hectares.
A closer look at the data reveals contrasting trends within the ecosystem production types.
While irrigated palay production experienced a marginal increase of 0.4%, bringing in 1,115.6 thousand metric tons, rainfed palay production was significantly impacted with a 5.2% decrease, amounting to 62,890.5 metric tons less than in 2022.
The decrease in rainfed areas, which are heavily dependent on rainfall, is particularly concerning, reflecting a reduction of 16,600.4 hectares, a 4.3% decline from the previous year.
On the other hand, the irrigated areas marginally increased by 0.5% or 1,596.9 hectares.
Provincially, Iloilo continued to lead in palay production, contributing 47.1% of the total harvested area. It was followed by Negros Occidental with 21.5%, and Capiz with 14.3%. Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras also contributed with 11.0%, 3.8%, and 2.4%, respectively.
Despite the annual decrease, the fourth quarter of 2023 showed an improvement with a 7.4% increase in palay production, amounting to 740,019.5 metric tons, which is 50,823.2 metric tons more than the corresponding quarter in 2022.
Both irrigated and rainfed palay productions saw increases in the fourth quarter. Irrigated production rose by 14.8%, reaching 358,553.0 metric tons, while rainfed production slightly increased by 1.2%.
The harvested areas for both irrigated and rainfed ecosystems saw expansions of 17.4% and 2.3%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2022.
Iloilo once again led in palay production during the fourth quarter, contributing 49.8% to the region’s total. Negros Occidental followed with a 23.3% share, and other provinces such as Antique, Capiz, Aklan, and Guimaras contributed to the remaining production.
