Palay production hits record high in first half

Philippine palay production reached a record high of over nine million metric tons in the first half of the year, marking a significant rebound.

The palay harvest from January to June totaled 9.08 million MT, a six percent increase compared to the same period last year.

This figure surpasses the previous first-half record of 9.03 million MT set in 2023.

The increased harvest is attributed to improved yields and larger planted areas, benefiting from favorable weather conditions after last year's El Niño-induced dry spell.

Harvest area expanded to 2.12 million hectares, up from 2.06 million hectares in the previous year.

Government interventions, including the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and the National Irrigation Administration's double dry cropping strategy, were key factors in boosting production.