Palay production in Eastern Visayas inched up by 0.8 percent from 259,703 MT in the first quarter of 2023 to 261,676 metric tons (MT) in the first quarter of 2024. This meager increase was noted despite a 5.6 percent decrease in the area harvested for palay. Area Harvested declined from 80,299 hectares (Ha) in the first quarter of 2023 to 75,824 Ha in the same period of 2024. The rise in production is attributed to the 6.7 percent increase in yield per hectare, which improved from 3.23 MT in the first quarter of 2023 to 3.45 MT in the first quarter of 2024.

LEYTE SHARES MORE THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL PALAY PRODUCTION

In the first quarter of 2024, Leyte produced 133,932 metric tons (MT) of palay, accounting for 51.2 percent of the region's total palay production. Samar followed with 52,449 MT production, contributing 20.0 percent to the regional total palay production. Northern Samar produced 39,897 MT, comprising 15.2 percent of the total palay production. Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte contributed 7.5 percent (19,630 MT) and 3.6 percent (9,298 MT), respectively. Biliran produced the least, with 6,470 MT, accounting for 2.5 percent of the region’s total palay production. Among the provinces, Leyte and Eastern Samar posted production increases at 15.2 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.

SAMAR POSTS BIGGEST DECREASE IN AREA HARVESTED FOR PALAY

The area harvested for palay decreased across provinces, with Samar posting  the biggest decline at 18.2 percent. The harvested area in Samar dropped from 20,987 Ha in the first quarter of 2023 to 17,177 Ha in the same period of 2024 (Table 2). Furthermore, Northern Samar, recorded a 3.6 percent decline in the area harvested from 15,730 Ha in the first quarter of 2023 to 15,167 Ha in the same period of 2024. Southern Leyte likewise registered a decrease at 3.6 percent from 2,298 Ha in the first quarter of the previous year to 2,216 Ha in the same period of the current year.

Minimal declines in area harvested for palay areas were observed in the provinces of Biliran (-0.72%), Leyte (-0.03%), and Eastern Samar (-0.01%) with area harvested posted at 1,525 ha, 31,533 Ha, and 8,206 Ha, respectively, in the first quarter of 2024.

In terms of the share in the area harvested for palay in the region, Leyte recorded the largest proportion at 41.6 percent for the first quarter of 2024. Samar followed with 17,177 Ha, accounting for 22.7 percent share. Northern Samar contributed 20.0 percent with 15,167 Ha. Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte followed at 10.8 and 2.9 percent share, respectively. The province of Biliran recorded the smallest area harvested, at 1,525 Ha, making up 2.0 percent share of the total area harvested for palay.

LEYTE RECORDS HIGHEST YIELD PER HECTARE

Among the provinces of Eastern Visayas, Leyte recorded the highest yield per hectare at 4.25 MT/Ha during the first quarter of 2024, it registered a 2.16 percent increase compared to the 4.16 MT/Ha recorded in the same quarter of 2023. Biliran followed with a yield of 4.24 MT/Ha, a 2.12 percent decrease from the 4.33 MT/Ha recorded in the first quarter of 2023 (Table 3). Southern Leyte ranked third with 4.20 MT/Ha, marking a 0.33 percent increase from the previous year's figure. Samar came next with a yield of 3.05 MT/Ha, which was a notable 17.29 percent increase from its yield of 2.60 MT/Ha in the same quarter of 2023. Northern Samar also recorded an increase, with a yield of 2.63 MT/Ha, up by 1.85 percent from 2.58 MT/Ha recorded in the first quarter of 2023. Eastern Samar posted the lowest yield per hectare at 2.39 MT/Ha, despite the 15.18 percent increase from its yield per hectare posted at 2.08 MT/Ha in the same quarter of 2023.

SGD. WILMA A. PERANTE
Regional Director