Monday, January 23, 2006
8M kilos of veggies entered RP in '05
THE volume of imported vegetables that infiltrated the country last year has significantly decreased but the campaign against the entry of these foreign agricultural commodities will definitely push through.
Benguet Board Member Kim reported there were more than eight million kilos of fresh vegetables imported by the country last year.
The volume, Kim said, has lessened compared to the 36,424,210 kilos that flooded the local markets in 2004. He said potatoes comprised bulk of those imported. From the 8,339,787 kilos that entered the Philippines, 6,185,000 were potatoes.
The vigilance of local officials and the local agricultural sector contributed to the decrease in the volume of importation, Kim said, causing the prices of local agricultural products to remain stable.
He said the pressure made by the provincial officials, farmers and traders on the National Government also bore positive results.
But the board member campaigned for the continuous monitoring of vegetable importation, despite the report.
As part of the monitoring, Kim said the Provincial Government should take the lead in asking potato processing companies to submit a list of their annual consumption list to determine how much volume shall be allowed to enter the country. (JC)
(January 23, 2006 issue)
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