‘Benguet harvest OK despite frost’

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines – The prevailing frost has not affected the harvest of  vegetables in Benguet and nearby towns of Mountain Province.

Quoting reports from the Benguet Vegetable Farmers Cooperative, Augusta Balanoy   said only five percent of the total vegetable production like potatoes, cabbage, lettuce and carrots are rotting because of the extreme weather condition.

At least 13 Benguet towns are producing vegetables, and only a few had reported  vegetable spoilage, she added.

Frost wilts leafy vegetables and prevents them from growing to their desired size.

Vegetable farms in Benguet  have a natural barrier against frost as most of them are along sloping areas.

The wind  blows away precipitation on the leaves that develops into frost when the temperature dips.

Some sitios in flat areas in Atok, Sayangan, Buguias, Kibungan, Bakun and Kapangan are experiencing frost.

Farmers built green houses and sprinkler systems to wash away precipitation on leafy vegetables and reduce the  effects of the low temperature.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan dismissed reports that the frost had destroyed large areas of vegetables ready for harvest.

Farmers have already learned from past experience so they have adopted methods to reduce spoilage, he added.