ILOILO City – Corn production in Western Visayas plunged by 40.2% during the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, with total output recorded at 77,272 metric tons (MT), a significant decline from 129,176 MT in Q3 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Corn is both a staple food and an economic lifeline. For many rural communities in the region, white corn serves as an alternative to rice, providing sustenance to families.
Meanwhile, yellow corn is crucial for the region’s livestock and poultry sectors, supporting the livelihoods of farmers and agribusiness workers alike.
The provincial shares in the region’s total corn production for Q3 2024 were:
* Iloilo – 38,285 MT (49.5%)
* Capiz – 28,466 MT (36.8%)
* Negros Occidental – 9,543 MT (12.3%)
* Antique – 498 MT (0.6%)
* Aklan – 271 MT (0.4%)
* Guimaras – 210 MT (0.3%)
Yellow corn production in the third quarter of 2024 reached 67,615 MT, 32.6% down from 100,342 MT in the third quarter of 2023.
On the other hand, white corn production in this year’s third quarter hit 9,657 MT, 66.5% down from 28,834 MT in the same quarter last year.
The total area harvested for corn decreased slightly. For yellow corn, it was 15,369 hectares this year from 24,429 in 2023; and for white corn, 5,369 hectares this year from 14,263 last year.
The distribution of harvested areas by province was:
* Iloilo – 7,990 hectares (38.5%)
* Negros Occidental – 6,519 hectares (31.4%)
* Capiz – 5,940 hectares (28.6%)
* Guimaras – 110 hectares (0.5%)
* Antique – 113 hectares (0.5%)
* Aklan – 94 hectares (0.5%)
The decrease in corn production poses potential challenges for food security and the livestock sector, which heavily depends on yellow corn for feed. This drop highlights the need for targeted agricultural interventions to address the region’s declining yield, particularly in the context of climate variability and resource management.
The PSA’s preliminary report emphasizes the urgency for stakeholders to adapt strategies that ensure sustainable corn production in Western Visayas./PN
