PALAY PRODUCTION IN SOUTH COTABATO UP BY 51.3 PERCENT
 

The volume of palay production in South Cotabato went up by 2.1 percent from 76,982 metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 78,571 metric tons in the same quarter of 2024. This resulted to an increase of 1,589 metric tons of palay in the same period. 

By ecosystem, palay production from irrigated farms increased by 1.4 percent from 66,025 metric tons to 66,962 metric tons. In addition, the volume of production in rainfed farms also increased by 6.0 percent to 11,609 metric tons this year from 10,957 metric tons on the same quarter of the previous year. In the fourth quarter of 2024, palay production from irrigated farms shared 85.2 percent to the total production of the province. 

PALAY AREA HARVESTED IN SOUTH COTABATO INCREASED BY 0.9 PERCENT
 

The area harvested of palay in the fourth quarter of 2024 was recorded at 20,739 hectares, a 0.9 percent increase from 20,554 hectares in the same period of 2023. This may be attributed to the expansion of harvested areas across both types of ecosystems.

The area harvested on irrigated fields went up by 0.2 percent from 17,038 hectares in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 17,077 hectares in the same quarter of 2024. In addition, rainfed areas had a 4.2 percent increase. It expanded from 3,516 hectares in 2023 to 3,662 in 2024 during the fourth quarter of current year. Irrigated fields accounted for 82.3 percent of total palay harvested area while rainfed farms had a 17.7 percent share.

The average yield increased by 1.2 percent at 3.79 metric tons per hectare this year compared to last year’s level of 3.75 metric tons per hectare for all crop types.
Area harvested of palay in South Cotabato constituted 21.5 percent of the total area harvested in SOCCSKSARGEN Region during the fourth quarter of 2024.

TECHNICAL NOTES

Palay production, area and yield and other production data are generated from Palay Production Survey (PPS) which is one of the major agricultural surveys of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The PPS is conducted nationwide every quarter of each year. It aims to generate estimates that serve as inputs for policy making and programs on palay. Production data generated from the PPS are inputs to the Performance of Agriculture Report (PAR) and compilation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

•    Palay – refers to the local term for unhulled rice; also known as paddy or rough rice; scientifically called Oryza Sativa Linn.

•    Production – refers to quantity produced and actually harvested during reference period. It includes those harvested but damaged, stolen, given away, consumed, given as harvesters’ and threshers’ shares, reserved, etc. Palay production from seed growers which are intended for seed purposes is excluded from the survey.

•    Area harvested – refers to the total area harvested for palay during the reference period. It may be less than or equal to the total area planted.

•    Irrigated – area with irrigation facilities supplying water through artificial means like gravity, force/ power, pump, etc. Irrigated area become rainfed only when the irrigation system is no longer operational for the past two (2) years and beyond repair and there is no plan of irrigation in the farm.

•    Rainfed – palay grown on this ecosystem has dikes that retain water and is solely dependent upon rainfall for its water supply. Rainfed can be converted to irrigated only if the area is laid with permanent irrigation facility.

•    Upland – palay grown on this ecosystem 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.

Approved for release:

MA. EILEEN A. BERDEPRADO
(Chief Statistical Specialist)
Officer-In-Charge, PSA-South Cotabato