DA: Retail prices of vegetables up by P20/kilo

MANILA — The retail prices of vegetables increased by P20 per kilo amid rains experienced in many areas in the country last week.

Based on monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the highest retail price of cabbage in Metro Manila markets on June 16 reached P120 per kilo compared to the highest retail price of P100 per kilo a week ago on June 9.

The retail price of carrots also increased by P20 per kilo as of Friday, selling for as high as P120 per kilo compared to P100 per kilo seven days ago.

According to the DA, the retail price of chayote also increased by P7 per kilo to P87 last Friday compared to P80 a week ago.

In a radio interview, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) president Rosendo So confirmed an upward trend in the retail prices of upland vegetables or those sourced from Benguet.

“For the past week, the retail price of vegetables slightly increased because of rains,” So said.

So added that based on the monitoring of SINAG, the wholesale price of cabbage in Benguet increased by P5 per kilo while the wholesale price of carrots was up by P3 to P4 per kilo. “The increase (in the wholesale price) was not high,” he said.

He added that he expects the retail price of vegetables to go down this week as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said it does not expect another cyclone to affect the country this week after Typhoon Chedeng enhanced the southwest monsoon last week, causing rains in many areas in the country.

“We expect the price to normalize this week with the expected good weather,” So said.

At the same time, he said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) should file cases against those involved in the hoarding and manipulating of the prices of agricultural products.

“We hope the DOJ should move to at least file cases against those behind the cartel (of agriculture products),” the SINAG official said.

On the other hand, So said that the 20,000 metric tons of fertilizer, equivalent to 400,000 bags should benefit palay farmers.

“We welcome the donation (of China) as it will be a big help to the sector, to farmers planting palay,” he said.

So added that he hopes that other countries will also provide donations to the Philippine government to boost its own production. “We hope other countries will also provide assistance to the farmers,” he said.

According to So, the decision of President Marcos to stay as agriculture secretary will also help boost the country’s production in the sector.

“President Marcos felt he was still needed at the DA. At least more countries will provide assistance to the agriculture sector, it is a big factor,” he noted.