The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects stronger performance in the second quarter, led by improved rice and corn harvests.
“Given the latest production forecasts from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), we’re hopeful this quarter will build on the momentum we saw at the start of the year. But we must not let our guard down. We are doubling down on efforts to increase food production while boosting farmer incomes,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
After slowing to just 0.5-percent growth in the first quarter of 2024 due to El Niño, the agriculture sector bounced back with a 2.2-percent expansion in in the first quarter of 2025.
Based on the latest field reports, the PSA expects palay output at 4.36 million metric tons (MT), up 13 percent from the same period last year and slightly above the April forecast of 4.34 million MT.
The increase was attributed to a 9.2-percent expansion in harvest area to 972,730 hectares and improved yields projected at 4.48 MT per hectare compared to 4.32 MT last year.
Tiu Laurel said rice production rose due to favorable weather and enhanced government support through the National Rice Program, RCEF and stronger palay procurement by the NFA, which buys at P18 to P24 per kilogram.
The PSA expects second-quarter corn production to grow by 27 percent to 1.48 million MT, driven by a 16-percent increase in harvest area to 402,690 hectares.
Tiu Laurel also underscored the impact of contract farming initiatives and irrigation support from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), which are helping farmers make better planting decisions and expand their production.
“These numbers are encouraging, but this is just the beginning. With sustained funding support for rice programs, we remain fully committed to achieving food security by end-2028, in line with the President’s vision,” he said.
Rice and corn are the top contributors to crop production, which accounts for roughly 57 percent of total agricultural output.
