Palay production in Eastern Visayas decreased by 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, posted at 250,454 metric tons (MT) from the 258,993 MT in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is attributed to the 3.4 percent decrease in area harvested for palay from 68,561 hectares (Ha) in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 66,233 Ha in the same quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, yield per hectare rose by 0.1 percent, from 3.77 MT in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 3.78 MT in the same quarter of 2023.

LEYTE SHARES MORE THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL PALAY PRODUCTION

With 139,833 MT produced in the fourth quarter of 2023, Leyte comprised the largest portion of the palay production in Eastern Visayas (Table 1). It accounted for 55.8 percent, or more than half, of the region's total palay production. Samar followed with a production of 49,440 MT, which accounted for 19.7 percent of the region’s total palay production. Following with 22,807 MT of production, Southern Leyte contributed 9.1 percent of the total palay production. Biliran and Eastern Samar shared 7.5 percent (18,822 MT) and 5.0 percent (12,414 MT) respectively. Northern Samar produced the least total of palay production in the region, accounting for only 2.9 percent (7,138 MT). Notably, compared to its level in the fourth quarter of 2022 palay production decreased in all provinces in the same quarter of 2023 with Southern Leyte posting the lowest decrease at 6.44%.

SAMAR POSTS BIGGEST DECREASE IN AREA HARVESTED FOR PALAY

The area harvested for palay decreased across the provinces. Samar recorded the biggest decline at 12.6 percent, going from 17,426 Ha in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 15,227 Ha in the same period of 2023, (Table 2). The second largest decline was reported in Southern Leyte, which dropped from 6,466 Ha recorded during the fourth quarter of 2022 to 6,365 Ha on the same quarter of 2023, or equivalent of 1.56 percent.

The slightest drops were noted in Northern Samar, Biliran, Eastern Samar, and Leyte, at 0.32 percent (2,387 Ha), 0.27 percent (4,430 Ha), 0.05 percent (3.962 Ha), and 0.02 percent (33,862 Ha), respectively.

As to the share in the proportion of area harvested for palay, Leyte posted the biggest share at 51.1 percent to the total area harvested for palay in the region in the fourth quarter of 2023. Samar came second with 15,227 Ha (23.0 percent) of area harvested, followed by Southern Leyte at 6,365 Ha (9.6 percent). Biliran and Eastern Samar contributed 6.7 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively. The province of Northern Samar, meanwhile, had the least area harvested during the period with only 2,387 Ha accounting for 3.6 percent of the total area harvested for palay.

BILIRAN RECORDS HIGHEST YIELD PER HECTARE

Among the provinces of Eastern Visayas, Biliran recorded the highest yield per hectare at 4.25 MT/Ha during the fourth quarter of 2023. This figure, however, was 1.24 percent lower compared with the 4.30 MT/Ha recorded in the same quarter of 2022. Leyte followed at 4.13 MT/Ha (Table 3). This registered a decrease of 2.02 percent than its 4.21 MT/Ha recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022. Southern Leyte ranked third with 3.58 MT/Ha, but with a reduction of 4.96 percent compared with its figure in the same quarter of 2022. Samar ranked fourth with 3.25 MT/Ha. This figure, however, was 7.44 percent higher than its yield of 3.02 MT/Ha recorded in the same quarter of 2022. Eastern Samar likewise posted a decrease by 3.64 percent at 3.13 MT/Ha in the fourth quarter of 2023 from 3.25 MT/Ha recorded in the same quarter of 2022. Northern Samar posted the lowest yield per hectare at 2.99 MT/Ha during the fourth quarter of 2023, 0.71 percent lower than its yield of 3.01 MT/Ha recorded in the same quarter of 2022.

SGD. WILMA A. PERANTE
Regional Director