DA-CAR assures sufficient supply of vegetables

The Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR) assured the stable supply of highland vegetables for the Yuletide celebrations amidst the low supply due to the negative impact of the series of weather disturbances that affected some farmers in vegetable-producing communities in the region.

DA-CAR regional executive director lawyer Jennilyn Dawayan said there are no indications of shortage in the supply of highland vegetables until the first quarter of next year based on the ongoing monitoring being conducted by the agency on the stability of the supply for the consumers.

She recognized that the recent weather disturbances that affected the region over the past several months have affected some vegetable farmers in Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao but some of them were able to recover and rejuvenate their crops that will stabilize the supply of vegetables during the Yuletide season.

The DA-CAR official noted that vegetable farmers affected by several typhoons last year who qualified for assistance are now being served with approved aids while those who were affected by the recent Typhoon Uwan will have to wait for their assistance until early next year as the agency is still finalizing the damage reports to be submitted to the central office for the allocation and release of the funds prescribed for the assistance.

Dawayan pointed out that the stable supply of vegetables also guarantees the stable prices for the commodities as the buying prices will only be affected pursuant to the law of supply and demand.

According to her, there is always a slowdown in the delivery of vegetables from the farms to the trading centers before Christmas and New year but normal transactions always resume after the merrymakings during the special days of the year.

She explained that traders usually purchase all their requirements several days before Christmas and New Year to allow them to also celebrate with their families so as with the farmers that is why there are always limited transactions in the different trading centers some days or one day before and one day after special days.

However, she projected that there might be lower buying prices of vegetables by February and March next year because farmers who were able to plant their crops after the weather disturbances will be harvesting their produce simultaneously, which could create a partial increase in the supply.

More than 80 percent of the country’s supply of semi-temperate vegetables come from the vegetable-producing communities of Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao where agriculture is their major source of livelihood over the past several decades.

Dawayan urged the public to patronize the vegetable produce of the farmers during the Yuletide season for them to be able to serve healthy food for their families and friends during the numerous celebrations towards the end of the year and early next year. – Dexter A. See