Frost incidence minimal

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Frost incidence here does not affect vegetable production, an official said.

Agusta Balanoy, liaison officer and secretary general of the League of Associations-La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post, said local farmers report there are still on and off presence of frosts in a few areas especially those in high altitude areas like upper Madaymen in Kibungan and the highest portion of Paoay, Atok only.

“However, does not pose any problem to the vegetable production since the area affected is not wide considering that all of the 13 municipalities of Benguet produce vegetables. The effect of frost is not too serious to shake the local vegetable industry,” Balanoy said.

Benguet farmers, having been experiencing this concern on frost yearly since time immemorial, have devised solutions to resolve such.

Balanoy said farmers stand watch for the changes in weather. “If the climate turns cold, they monitor for the air. If the coldness is not accompanied by wind, then it is expected that frost may likely be present the next day, preparations should be done.”

Farmers also water their plants to wash off the frost at dawn before the sun rises. This is because if the sun melts the ice on the plants, the plants will be destroyed.

Balanoy said some farmers do not plant in the areas that are often harmed by frosts and instead plant on areas that are not too cold.

Today, among the major commodities, womboc still has a good price. Cabbage and potato are at a break-even price while carrots are still slumped at P3-7 per kilo. Many farmers have brought carrots back to their farms while some dumped it along the Halsema Highway because their transportation expenses is far more costly than the sales of their carrots pegged at P1.00 or P2.00 per kilo at farmers' price.

Balanoy said by March, farmers will plant for the next cropping so it is expected that volume may decrease.