MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said spiking vegetable prices may be tamed in two weeks with the recovery in the high-value crops sector.
This came as the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center logged around PHP 847.48 million worth of damage in high-value crops affecting 7, 190 hectares of land during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami).
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the impact of Kristine resulted in the decline in vegetable supply from the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, as well as the ongoing price spikes in Metro Manila and Kristine-hit areas.
“Ito ay magtatagal normally, mga (This normally spans from) one to two weeks. Ang gulay naman, ang bilis niyang maka-recover after ng mga one to two weeks ay bumabalik din sa normal na presyuhan (The vegetables, likewise, will recover and be back to normal pricing within one to two weeks),” he said.
He reported an over 28, 000 MT decline in vegetable output delivery as the partial and total damage in high-value crops reached 35, 616 MT.
De Mesa, however, assured that consumers still have alternative options to access more affordable agricultural commodities.
He said the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service is coordinating with the regional field offices for “market matching.”
“Mayroon tayong mga alternative na sources ng ating gulay galing sa (We have alternative sources of vegetables from) Visayas at Mindanao at dito rin sa Luzon na hindi naapektuhan masyado ng bagyong (and from Luzon which are not affected by typhoon) Kristine,” De Mesa said.
Besides market matching, the DA also deployed Kadiwa food trucks in storm-hit areas.
As of October 31, the DA-Bantay Presyo (price watch) reported around a PHP 15 to PHP 80 increase in price per kilogram (kg.) of various highland and lowlands vegetables in just a week from October 23.
In Metro Manila, these include hikes in ampalaya at PHP180/kg from PHP100/kg. for the said period; string beans at PHP200/kg. from PHP140/kg.; tomato at PHP210/kg. from PHP160/kg.; pechay tagalog at PHP150/kg. from PHP100/kg.; eggplant at PHP130/kg. from PHP90/kg.; Baguio beans at PHP190/kg. from PHP160/kg.; carrots at PHP200/kg. from PHP180/kg.; and chayote at PHP85/kg. from PHP70/kg., among others. (PNA)