Frost in Benguet towns has no effect on supply, price of vegetables-mayors

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Feb. 17 (PIA) — The state weather bureau PAGASA has been recording a drop of temperature due to the Amihan  the past days  which  caused some vegetable-producing  towns in the province to experience frost locally termed as  “andap.”

Atok Mayor Peter Alos and Mankayan Mayor Materno Luspian clarified that the reported occurrence of frost in their municipalities has no effect on the supply and prices of vegetables.

Alos said there were reports of frost occurrence  in his town particularly in barangay Paoay with temperature going  down as low negative 3 degrees Celsius but he clarified that the frost   affected  grasslands, water system,  farmlands  which are  being readied for cultivation, and some vegetable plantation areas..

The mayor  said  mostly affected are cabbage and potatoes but  no large quantity of vegetables was  damaged by the frost. He explained that farmers  have  learned  to adopt to the occurrence of frost   so that their livelihood will not be affected. One way is by  sprinkling water  to the frosted vegetables before sunrise.

Mankayan Mayor Luspian  also reported  that the effect of the frost occurrence in his town was low  as  farmers are quick to  save their crops from  damages.

In January, Benguet Gov. Crescencio Pacalso  reported that  less than one percent of the supply of vegetables was  affected by the frost occurrence and had no significant effect on the supply and prices.  But opportunistic businessmen  took  advantage of the situation and increased prices of vegetables in Baguio City and Manila markets.

This was affirmed by Benguet Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative General Manager Agot Balanoy and appealed to traders and businessmen in the Manila areas not to take advantage of the situation of the farmers .Photos of  frost occurrence in Benguet farms spreading  in  the social media should not be basis for the public to be alarmed of the situation, she said.

Meanwhile,   farmers and local officials of Benguet called on the Department of Agriculture to help the farmers by providing more water hoses and sprinkler systems for to lessen the effects of frost in their plantation areas. (JDP/RMC & Angela Baylon-PIA CAR/ UPB Intern)

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