BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — Government employees and other stakeholders in the region were mobilized to purchase locally-produced vegetables to help farmers in the Cordillera region.
The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) facilitated the linkage to sell tons of cabbages from the trading posts to assist farmers facing challenges in selling their produce.
DA-CAR OIC Regional Executive Director Jennilyn Dawayan initiated the call for support through the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives where government agencies responded by snapping up the local vegetable products through DA-CAR.
On January 5, the DA-CAR sourced-out vegetables, mostly cabbage, from the Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center and La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post in La Trinidad, Benguet. These were immediately bought by employees of the regional offices of the DA, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Plant Industry for P10 to P15 per kilo.
Employees of the regional offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, National Economic and Development Authority and National Police Commission also purchased the vegetables.
DA-CAR reported that they were able to sell at least 3.1 metric tons of cabbage with estimated gross sales of P41,000 from the initiative. The funds will be distributed proportionally among the farmers, showcasing a concerted effort to alleviate the economic burden faced by vegetable growers.
Dawayan said this initiative underscores the importance of government agencies working together to bolster the agricultural industry.
The DA-CAR also sold at least 7.8 metric tons of cabbages on January 6 in La Trinidad, Tuba, and Sablan through the support of the different local government units.
Another 7.5 metric tons of vegetables were sold through the E-CARE, a non-government organization under the Episcopal Church in the Philippines in Baguio City.
DA-CAR continues to link farmers to institutional partners and consumers in the neighboring Benguet towns and in other regions to help farmers market their produce.
DA-CAR reports indicate that there was no oversupply of cabbage, Chinese cabbage, snap beans, and potatoes recently. The giving away and selling of vegetables at significantly lower cost, which started on December 28, 2023, until the first three days of January, was caused by lack of buyers, which led to abnormal trading activities.
As cabbage is a perishable good, the farmers have two options- to give it for free or to sell at a lower price.
DA-CAR continues to coordinate and reach out to the farmers and the different stakeholders in the agricultural industry to discuss the current issues on low-priced vegetables, alleged oversupply, and dumping. (RMC/ PIA-CAR)
