LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) — Benguet vegetable farmers can counter the effects of the frost on their plants and crops.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas claimed this following the reported occurrence of frost in some parts of the province since the third week of January this year.
“Hindi na bago ang “andap” o frost dito sa Benguet. Alam na ng mga farmers ang gagawin nila tuwing panahon ng frost. Mayroon na din silang mga mekanismo para hindi maapektuhan ang kanilang mga pananim,” Diclas said in an interview.
The governor explained that frost is a normal occurrence in various parts of Benguet and in Mountain Province particularly in high elevation areas. This phenomenon usually occurs in the months of December, January and February when temperature drops to single digit.
For this year, the PAGASA recorded the lowest temperature in Benguet at 9.4 degrees Celsius at the Benguet State University Agromet Station in La Trinidad on January 26 while 9.5 degrees Celsius was recorded the lowest at the Benguet Radar Station in Sto. Tomas in Mount Cabuyao, Tuba, Benguet.
In Atok, the local government reported the occurrence of frost particularly in Englandad in Paoay as early as Jan. 19 until the last week of January. Parts of grassland and some vegetable farms were covered with frost as temperature dropped in the area.
Frost was also recorded in Sto Tomas in Tuba, Madaymen in Kibungan, and Balili in Mankayan.
As of reporting time, there are no reported frost damages to crops and vegetables in the province.
Diclas said that farmers have learned to combat the effects of frost in their farmlands and crops. They usually spray or sprinkle water at the frost-affected crops using either rain burst or power sprayers to get rid of the icy water before the sunlight reaches the crops.
He added that hose and sprayers have been provided by the provincial government, the Department of Agriculture and the municipal government units as support to the farmers.
Meanwhile, the governor appealed to businessmen especially in the lowlands and in Metro Manila, not to take advantage of the andap or frost situation affect the prices of highland vegetables. In the past years, it has been observed that vegetable prices had increased in some markets outside of Benguet blaming it to the andap occurrence in the vegetable farmlands of Benguet.
“Huwag sanang samantalahin ng mga businessmen at mga vendors lalo an outside ng Benguet ang pagtaas ng presyo ng gulay dahil lamang sa frost. Sa ngayon wala pa namang reports na tinamaan ng frost ang mga pananamin kaya wala din dapat biglaang pag taas ng presyo ng gulay,” he said.
Diclas said that the provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is working closely with the municipalities through their municipal agriculturists on the frost situation and to provide the necessary support for the farmers being affected. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR) (photos from Atok Tourism Office/Igorota Gardenera)
