First Quarter 2001 Regional Economic Situationer

Western Mindanao

1.  Agricultural Crops

1.1  Palay Production and Prices

Palay production for the first quarter of 2001 had drastically dropped by around 20 percent compared with the first quarter production of last year with Basilan Province registering the highest decline in palay production of roughly 46 percent (Annex 1A). This is attributed to the reduction in the area harvested in all provinces except Zamboanga del Norte.

Irrigated Farms

Palay production output for irrigated farms in the region recorded a 25.2 percent decrease compared with the production of last year due to the decrease in the area planted/harvested as well as the yield per hectare, which dropped by about 8 percent. The province of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City experienced decreased in area harvested by 23.4 and 25.5 percent, respectively. This was caused by the change of cropping pattern, and the effect of tungro and stem borer especially in the municipality of Siay, Zamboanga del Sur. The decreased in the area harvested in Zamboanga City was due to land conversion in fallow lands, and siltation of some irrigation canals.

Rainfed Farms

Total production from rainfed farms in the region went down by about 3.5 percent compared to the same period. This was due to the decrease in the yield per hectare recorded at 7.0 percent despite the slight increase in the area harvested by 3.8 percent. Zamboanga del Norte recorded the highest decrease in the area harvested by about 6.7 percent due to delayed harvest caused by the continuous rainfall and the effect of stem borer and leaf blight.

Palay Farmgate Price and Prevailing Prices of Rice

Average farmgate price of palay increased by 3.2 percent from P 7.92 per kilo during the first quarter last year to P 8.18 per kilo in the same period of 2001 (Annex 1B). The slight increase in the average farmgate price was influenced partly by the higher buying price of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Special rice was sold at an average of P19.14 per kilo, which was slightly lower than the 2000 figure of P19.15 per kilo. However, the price of ordinary rice which was reclassified as special rice due to good milling quality had practically remained the same during the first quarter last year and in 2001. (Annex 1B)

1.2 Corn

Production of White corn in the region had increased slightly by about 2.0 percent compared because of the increase in the area planted/harvested recorded at 7.4 percent (Annex 2). The increase in production was experienced in the provinces of Basilan and Zamboanga del Sur with 76.2 and 60.9 percent increase, respectively. The increase in the area harvested was attributed to the change in cropping pattern as a result of favorable weather condition.

The Yellow corn production dropped by around 14 percent compared with the production for the same period last year because of the decrease in the yield per hectare recorded at 16.0 percent. Zamboanga City experienced a big decrease in production recorded at 46.5 percent due to the decrease in the area planted to yellow corn as well as the decrease in the yield per hectare by around 5 percent due to the effect of the continuous rainfall in the area.

1.3 High-Value Crops

High value crops production for the first quarter, increased by 7 percent (Annex 3). This positive growth was attributed to increased production of banana, coconut, mango, and rubber. However, production of cassava went down by about 5 percent. Notable was the high increase in banana and mango production in 2001, which were recorded at 97 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

1.4        Fishery Production

Total fishery production in the region dropped by 6.4 percent during the first quarter of 2001 compared with the 2000 figure for the same period. From 103,378 metric tons of fish produced in 2000, total fish production for the first quarter of this year was only 96,784 metric tons (Annex 4A).

Commercial Fishery Production

Commercial fishery production slightly slipped by 1.2 percent from 35,963 metric tons last year to 35,535 metric tons in 2001. This was attributed to the decrease in production in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City by 1.6 and 2.9 percent, respectively.  However, the provinces of Basilan and Zamboanga del Norte posted positive growth during the period.

Municipal Fishery Production

Municipal fishery production posted a positive growth of around 3 percent during the first quarter of this year compared with the level of production for the same period last year. Zamboanga City and the province of Zamboanga del Norte contributed to the modest accomplishment with 8.0 and 5.3 percent increase, respectively.

Aquaculture Production

Aquaculture production – which includes the culture of bangus, prawns, shrimps, seaweeds, mud crab, oyster, tilapia, and mussel – contracted by 20.3 percent from 34,661 metric tons produced during the first quarter of 2000 to 27,615 metric tons for the same period in year 2001 (Annex 4-B).

Of the three provinces, Zamboanga del Norte recorded the highest decline in production with negative growth of 42.8 percent. This was followed by Zamboanga City and Basilan with a decline in production of 19.7 and 16.0 percent, respectively. Only Zamboanga del Sur experienced a slight decrease of aquaculture production recorded at 1.0 percent. The main cause of the decrease was the reduction in seaweeds production recorded at 22 percent, which was highest in Zamboanga del Norte. This decrease was due to “ice-ice” disease and strong waves.

1.5 Livestock Production

Total livestock production (chicken and hogs) in the region had increased by around 8.5 percent from 5,517,187 heads produced during the first quarter of 2000 to 5,937,672 heads for the same period in 2001 (Annex 5). All the provinces in the region posted positive growth in production with Zamboanga City registering the highest increase of around 24 percent.

Swine Production

Swine inventory as of the first quarter increased by 9.8 percent from 671,321 heads in 2000 to 737,322 heads in 2001. Zamboanga City posted the highest increase of 23.4 percent with 182,549 heads produced compared with the 2001 figure of 149,458 heads in 2000.

Chicken Production

Chicken inventory, which include native broilers and layers raised in the region, posted a positive growth of 7.3 percent from 4,845,866 heads in 2000 to 5,200,350 heads in 2001.