Fresh upland veggies at cheaper prices for Metro Manila consumers

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will be more aggressive in pushing for its food lane project to ensure fresh supply of vegetables from Benguet reach Metro Manila’s consumers at more reasonable prices.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, said the food lane project, a joint undertaking with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) substantially reduces travel time of agricultural deliveries from the north to Metro Manila and reduces postharvest losses which should reflect on retail prices of upland vegetables.

Yap joined the a vegetable caravan last Monday which started at La Trinidad, Benguet and culminated in Divisoria.

"The project is viable in terms of speedy, round-the-clock deliveries, reduction of spoilage vegetables while assuring constant supply to consumers," said Yap.

For instance, Yap said, travel time of a 12-ton truck from La Trinidad, Benguet to Divisoria, following one of the four routes charted by the DA and MMDA could be trimmed from 15 hours to 12 hours, while postharvest losses due to bruising and tearing could drop from P157,500 to P126,000, or a difference of P31,500.

"Most importantly, the project provides greater margin for farmers and retailers and it should stabilize, if not lower, the consumer prices of vegetables and fruits."

Thirty trucks, varying from six to 10-wheelers, with estimated capacity of 12 metric tons, joined the trial run in batches of five.

Postharvest losses are a factor of packing density, the type of transport container, the type of carrier and the weather. The average postharvest losses per hour ranges between 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent.

Thus, a truckload of vegetables worth P420,000 in Divisoria that leaves Benguet, postharvest losses per hour amounts to 300 kilos per truck or P10,500. For the old 15-hour trip, this translates to 4,500 kilos or P157,500.

With the food lanes, volume losses could be cut to 3,500 kilos or P126,000. About 900 kilos are expected to be saved by the efficiency of the food lanes or P31,500.