Onion farmers in Nueva Ecija load harvest on rafts to save from floodwaters

Several onion farmers in Nueva Ecija load their harvest on rafts in order to save from floods, according to Mark Salazar’s “24 Oras” report on Friday.

“Pahingi po ng tulay, ito yung tulay namin nasisira na kawawa naman yung magsisibuyas hindi makatawid,” an onion farmer said.

(We are asking for a bridge, this is the bridge that was destroyed. Pity the onion farmers who cannot cross to the other side.)

Rural Rising Philippines, a non-profit organization, said this is one of the farmers’ experiences in the country.

“Washout na po yung tulay and the onions are right there in the island waiting to be harvested and kung hindi po maharvest ang onion po ay nalubog then napakalaking kawalan po in money terms yung mga onions po doon,” Ace Estrada, Rural Rising Philippines founder, said.

(The bridge has been washed out and the onions are on that island waiting to be harvested. And is these are not harvested, the onions will be submerged in water and this will be a very big loss in money terms.)

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), it will start to repair the bridge in the area.

“But, we can also work with the local government unit (LGU) and even probably the DPWH to see who can see to address the situation the fastest, if it's just a repair then maybe we can talk our regional field office to the LGU para maaddress yon,” DA assistant secretary Kristine Evangelista said.

The Kadiwa stores said they will also buy those onions soaked in the flood.

Meanwhile, the farmers in Nueva Vizcaya, on the other hand, were waiting for buyers of broccoli for almost two days.

“Sinusubukan po namin na ibenta sa halagang P15 kada kilo pero hindi pa rin po nauubos. Sana matulungan kami,” a young farmer said.

(We tried to sell broccoli at P15 per kilo, but there are still some that are not sold. I hope someone can help us.)

The harvested broccoli, however, was thrown into the river for disposal.

Some strawberries farmers in Benguet, to avoid spoilage of their products, sold the fruit at a lower price.

Rural Rising Philippines said there is no overproduction of agricultural products. But there is a problem in the distribution of the items.

“Yung pong distribution ng produkto from farmer’s side to consumer side here in Metro Manila broken po siya, nakaasa lang po sa middleman yung pagdala ng produkto sa presyong gusto nila. So ang nangyayari po the farmer should be able to bring their produce directly to find buyers themselves but that is easier said than done,” Estrada said.

(The distribution of products from the farmers to the consumers is broken. The transport of products rely on middlemen, who set the price of the items. In this situation, the farmer should be able to find direct buyers and that is easier said than done.)

Asst. Secretary Evangelista said, “Ang sayote na P4 per kilo sa Benguet ibebenta dito sa Metro Manila ng pinaka mababa na P30 per kilo there is something wrong, there are too many layers kaya hindi bumababa ang presyo dito sa Metro Manila.”

(Sayote that is sold at P4 per kilo in Benguet is sold at P30 per kilo in Metro Manila. There is something wrong, there are too many layers that is why the prices in Metro Manila does not go down.)

The DA acknowledged the role of traders in the supply chain.

The agency, however, said there is a need to study price regulation, from buying from the farmers and selling in the local market. -- Richa Noriega/BAP, GMA Integrated News