Frost damage on vegetables minimal so far

MANILA, Philippines - There is enough supply of vegetables despite the cold climate prevailing in Northern Luzon, a crop damage report by the province of Benguet said. "Although there was frost that occurred [sic] last week, frost damage was observed only in potato," Felix B. Pedro, agricultural technologist of the municipality of Atok in Benguet, wrote to the Agriculture department. Frost damage was observed in the baranggays of Englandad in Paoay and Macbas in Cantubo, the report read. Of the two potato plantations, totaling 25 hectares, the frost damaged half an hectare — equal to half a metric ton of yields worth P6,500. "Frost damage is very minimal, it will not affect the market. We will have a stable supply for the remainder of the year" Rene Rafael C. Espino, director of the High Value Commercial Crops program, said. However, the Agriculture department expects an increase in vegetable prices. Per kilo prices of vegetables in Metro Manila markets late last week rose by P5 to P35-P60 from P30-P55 in the first week of this month, official data showed. — Neil Jerome C. Morales, BusinessWorld.