Rainy weather favors vegetable production

CEBU, Philippines - While strong winds have affected the supply of seafood in the market, the rainy weather meanwhile has been favorable to vegetable production resulting to a drop in vegetable prices in the market by P5 to P10 per kilogram these past few days.

Vegetable sellers at the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City said sales of vegetable goods have been steady because of declining costs are attracting customers.

"Mga one week na ni ang pag-ubos sa presyo tungod kay daghan mang uwan mao nang paspas ang tubo sa mga utanon sa probinsiya," said 40-year-old vendor Marilou Marintes.

For instance, eggplant is now selling at P20 per kilo from P25 to P30 before, string beans is sold at P20 a kilo from P30, sponge gourd (sikwa) is at P15 a kilo from P25 to P30 and okra is bought at P25 a kilo from P30.

Price of ampalaya remained the same at P50 per kilo while cost of squash has gone up to P16 per kilo from P12 before.

Consumers are positive on the low prices and hope these will prevail throughout the holiday season.

Unless a typhoon or any weather disturbance affects the region, prices of vegetables would remain stable, vendors said.

Gerry Avila, Agribusiness chief of the regional Agriculture Department, said vegetable price fluctuations happen very often.

"Due to high perishability, veggies per previous years monitoring, retail prices of veggies are not that high," he said. "In case naa gyoy taas nga presyo, we will advise lang since we don't have police power."

On the other hand, chicken cuts are still sold at P140 to P150 per kilo while whole dressed chicken is at P130 per piece. — Carlo S. Lorenciana (FREEMAN)