June 24, 2025

Philippine government confident of higher rice, corn output in Q2 2025

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) expressed confidence in a better performance of rice and corn in the second quarter of 2025.

Citing improved weather conditions and government interventions ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. is expecting a significant rise in rice and corn output.

"Given the latest production forecasts from the Philippine Statistics Authority, we're hopeful this quarter will build on the momentum we saw at the start of the year," Tiu Laurel said in a statement. "But we must not let our guard down. We are doubling down on efforts to increase food production while boosting farmer incomes."

According to the DA, after slowing to a growth of 0.5 % in the first quarter of 2024 due to El Niño, the agriculture sector rebounded by 2.2 % in the first quarter of 2025, similar to the growth rate posted in the first quarter of 2023.

The latest PSA projections estimates palay output to reach 4.36 million metric tonnes in the second quarter, up 13 % from the same period in 2024. DA said this is also slightly higher than the April forecast of 4.34 million MT.

The increase is driven by both expanded harvest area—up 9.2 % to 972,730 hectares—and improved yields, projected at 4.48 MT per hectare, from 4.32 MT in 2024.

The DA said rice production has benefited from "favourable weather, increased government support through the National Rice Program (NRP), Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), and stronger palay procurement by the National Food Authority (NFA)."

The NFA currently buys palay between ₱18 (US$0.31) and ₱24 (US$0.42) per kilo.

For corn production, based on standing crops as of May 1, the PSA projects second-quarter output at 1.487 million MT—an increase of 27 % from 2024. Harvest area is set to expand by 16 % to 402,690 hectares.

Tiu Laurel also credited contract farming initiatives and sustained irrigation support from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) that empowers farmers for the projected better performance.

Rice and corn production as major contributors to crop production, which accounts for around 57 % of the country's agricultural output.

-      GMA Integrated News