Ozamiz agri office advises consumers to buy in-season produce

OZAMIZ CITY (PIA) — The Ozamiz City Agriculture Office advised consumers to buy seasonal produce, suggesting that if a specific fruit is currently abundant, they should purchase it instead of searching for expensive out-of-season items.

During the press conference held in Ozamiz City for Consumer Welfare Month on October 2, Carlos Pijuan, city agriculturist of Ozamiz City Agriculture Office, shared that the Department of Agriculture (DA) monitors the prices of fresh produce in the market every week.

As of recently, the price of rice varies from P53 to P60 depending on its variety. “Mahal gyud ang atong baka naa sa P450 to P430 per kilo, ang baboy naa sa P250, Isda P200 to P150,” Pijuan said.

(Beef is really expensive. The cost of beef ranges from P450 to P430 per kilo, pork costs P250, and fish costs between P200 and P150.)

He added that since it is raining, the prices of the vegetables now range from P60 to P30 per kilo.

The problem of rice is its high cost of fertilizer, citing that most of the fertilizers are imported, Pijuan said.

The Asenso Ozamiz Rice Farmer Full Assistance Program, a city government program, helps farmers in Ozamiz offset the high production costs of rice grains. “So, we will provide land preparation expenses, provide seeds, and provide fertilizer based on soil analysis,” he said.

Meanwhile, during harvesting, the city agriculture office will also provide a harvester, and the local government will pay for that.

The effect will be an increased harvest. “Our harvest is at 4.8 tons per hectare, but the mayor challenged me to make it higher, so I will try,” he said.

The agriculturist also advised farmers to use chemicals judiciously because of their harmful effects on the body. He advised them to visit their office for proper pest control and management.

Among the concerns for fish production is the decreasing fish harvest at Panguil Bay. According to Pijuan, some Ozamiz fisherfolk reach Lanao del Norte, Sinacaban, and even Plaridel just to get a good amount of fish harvest.

African Swine Fever (ASF) continues to pose a significant challenge, particularly when it remains unmanaged. If the virus continues to persist, pork prices could significantly increase, potentially reaching P400 per kilogram, as reported by Pijuan.

The Consumer Welfare Month is marked every October of the year since Proclamation No. 1098 was signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos on September 26, 1997. (JMOR/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)