THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said it has adopted a multipronged response to the vegetable surplus and high transport costs in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Vegetable farmers in Benguet and nearby provinces are struggling with oversupply and weak market absorption. High fuel costs worsen the situation, preventing traders and transporters from moving the produce.
At least 590 metric tons of the produce urgently need market intervention, said DA-CAR office, noting that since vegetables are highly perishable, distribution delays often cause spoilage and income losses.
Initially, the DA-CAR will mobilize five Kadiwa trucks to haul the vegetables, while requesting for 38 more trucks previously granted to farmer cooperatives and associations and local government units, if needed.
The agency is also coordinating a shared transport network with the Office of Civil Defense to get the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Public Works and Highways, the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection to establish a “pasabay” system to haul the vegetables faster and more efficiently.
The DA has also increased Kadiwa selling activities and trade fairs, generating over P1.3 million from March to early April.
The agency said it opted against some stakeholders’ proposals for minimum prices for vegetables to avoid market distortion risks. Instead, it is focusing on accelerating market mapping to identify areas most affected by ongoing issues and is working to secure new institutional buyers.
It is also investing in cold storage and processing facilities, and preservation technologies to minimize postharvest losses. It is also exploring the adoption of integrated farming systems, such as incorporating livestock projects to help stabilize incomes.
“These initiatives are designed not only to provide timely relief through fuel subsidies and logistics support, but also to strengthen our food systems by improving supply chain efficiency and expanding direct market access,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
