In Asipulo, Ifugao, some farmers chose not to harvest tomatoes. Due to oversupply, the farm gate price of tomatoes dipped to Php 3.00 to Php 4.00 from Php 20.00 to Php 30.00. The supply of vegetables is also high in Bauko, Mountain Province.
The lockdown has led most farmers to depend on the trucks of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to collect their harvest for Kadiwa stores. But some planters claimed that none have collected their produce on Thursday, resulting in their choice to transport five tons of their harvest themselves to prevent rotting amid excessive supply.
“Hindi nadi-dispose kaagad, bumababa ang presyo, at the same time ang quality, like for example broccoli…kaya ipinamigay na lang… Lugi na sila. Ang laki ng kailangan nilang bawiin (These were not immediately disposed so the price and quality dropped. Like for example broccoli, they just give it all away due to poor quality… They incurred losses. They need to recover a lot),” Rico Amancio of Project Agapay disclosed.
The DA admitted there is oversupply of vegetables and is now coordinating with restaurant group owners to buy them. Investigation is underway to know why its personnel were not able to reach Bauco to collect the harvest.
“Ngayon ‘yong mga restaurateurs, willing na sila na bumili from our farmers… Ang gusto sana natin there is no such thing as oversupply, kasi ready lagi ang market (Restaurateurs are now willing to buy from farmers…What we want is there is no such thing as oversupply since markets are always ready),” DA ASec. Kristine Evangelista said.
Meanwhile, despite of oversupply, prices of some agricultural products such as carrots, pechay, string beans, and squash have increased in the market. The agriculture department insisted that there is no reason to increase prices and are now strictly monitoring traders.
