CORN production in the fourth quarter may exceed year-ago level despite recent storms and typhoons that hit many corn-producing areas in the country, according to stakeholders.

A Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) report showed that the standing corn crop for October to December 2009 points to a production gain of 5.21 percent to 1.45 million tons from 1.38 million tons in the fourth quarter last year. This, despite the damages caused by Tropical Storm “Ondoy” and Typhoons “Pepeng,” “Ramil” and “Santi.”

Harvest area during the period is expected to expand by 0.54 percent to 607,000 hectares from 604,000 hectares, while yield may improve by 4.65 percent, from 2.29 tons per hectare to 2.39 tons per hectare.

The Philippine Maize Federation Inc. or Philmaize, which represents corn farmers in the country, believes that expansion in harvest areas and improved yields will boost production of this crop. White corn is a staple food in some areas, while yellow corn is the main ingredient in animal feeds.

“We can achieve our projection in corn production in the last quarter,” Philmaize president Roger Navarro told the Inquirer in a text message.

Farmers all over the country have just replanted from the third quarter, he said.

They must now focus on minimizing post-harvest losses, with the help of the government.

“We need to arrest post harvest losses and guarantee quality and storage capability,” Navarro said.

The BAS has projected corn production this year to reach 7.04 million metric tons, up 1.63 percent from the 2008 output of 6.93 million tons.

In the first semester, corn production reached 3.22 million tons, down 2.27 percent from 3.29 million tons a year ago.

During the period, the harvest area contracted by 0.55 percent as farmers in Western Visayas shifted to other crops, such as cassava and pineapple to cope with the withdrawal of support for corn farmers by private financiers.

There was also some delay in the timing of the cropping in Northern Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Per hectare yield declined by 1.73 percent as crops suffered excessive rains in some parts of the country.

Production from July to September this year surpassed by 5.17 percent the production of 2.26 million tons in the same quarter last year.