Highland farmers are producing sufficient vegetables to supply the needs of the market, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera said.
“The total volume being traded in all the centers is high,” said DA-Cordillera Director Cameron Odsey.
He added the region’s production trading reaches a high level of 2,000 tons or two million kilos of assorted highland vegetables a day.
Cordillera vegetables are mostly brought to the National Capital Region and reach as far as Mindanao and Aparri, Cagayan.
Odsey said the current frequent afternoon rains and good weather are allowing farmers to produce a good yield.
During the lean months, Odsey said the lowest total daily trading is 1,000 metric tons per day at the Benguet State University-managed Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center, the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post managed by the municipal government, as well as other private trading centers located in La Trinidad.
He said they do not see any reason for the shortage of supply in Metro Manila considering that the trading quantity is high.
He added with the easing of restriction in the NCR Plus bubble, there might also be some restaurants that have opened or resumed operations and are buying their supplies.
Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas said there is no shortage of vegetable production in the province.
Benguet is the source of about 85 percent of the supply of highland vegetables in the Cordillera.
Diclas assured farmers continue to plant and harvest their produce to allow Filipinos to have sufficient vegetables especially at this time when boosting the immune system by eating healthy food is important. – PNA
