PRODUCTION

The seasonally adjusted palay production for October-December 2015 at 4.61 million metric tons was higher by 14.45 percent from the 4.03 million metric tons output in the third quarter (Table 1).

Production, harvest area and yield increased in several regions. Expansion in harvest areas was attributed to the movement of cropping from the third quarter to the fourth quarter due to delayed plantings in Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and MIMAROPA. Improvement in yield was traced to sufficient water supply and fertilizer usage in MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas. Availment of seeds and the fertilizer subsidy programs of the government in Northern Mindanao and Western Visayas boosted production. Lesser incidence of pests and diseases such as rice bugs and stemborers also contributed to higher output.

Figure 1. Quarterly Palay Production, Philippines, 2009-2015

Year on year, this quarter’s performance when deseasonalized was down by 5.50 percent or 268 thousand metric tons (Table1).

Figure 2. Quarterly Farmgate Prices of Palay, Philippines, 2009-2015

PRICES

The seasonally adjusted farmgate price of palay and wholesale and retail prices of rice for the fourth quarter of 2015 were up by 1.18 percent, 2.34 percent, and 0.19 percent, respectively, from their third quarter 2015 levels.

Figure 3. Quarterly Wholesale Prices of Rice, Philippines, 2009-2015

This quarter’s deseasonalized farmgate price of palay, retail and wholesale prices of rice decreased by 9.79 percent, 5.88 percent, and 4.39 percent from their respective price quotations during the same period last year (Tables 1-2).

Figure 4. Quarterly Retail Prices of Rice, Philippines, 2009-2015