Imported carrots killing country’s ‘veggie capital’

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The vegetable industry of this Cordillera province, considered the country’s "vegetable capital," is in trouble.

In fact, the situation is sending jitters to organizers of the Carrot Cake Fest slated during the Benguet Day in November.

The culprit: imported carrots from the People’s Republic of China which are swamping the local markets.

Gov. Raul Molintas is himself alarmed by the "invasion" of the Chinese carrots, noting that they are illegally brought into the country.

As evidence, Molintas said the carrots were apparently intended for Japan as shown by the markings on the crates and cartons a government monitoring team found at the La Trinidad market.

The Chinese carrots, he added, are marked "imported quantity" instead of the usual "imported quality," thus raising more suspicions.

Earlier, government reports had indicated that Benguet farmers have lost P3.6 million in revenues since last month because of the vegetable imports.

This town’s mayor, Nestor Fongwan, himself bewailed that carrot orders from Metro Manila have either stopped or declined since the arrival of the Chinese imports which are sold cheaper than local varieties.

Although the government allows vegetable importation, Molintas said legally, only up to a volume of 3,500 kilos is allowed.

Northern Benguet towns produce 20 tons of carrots and 50 tons of potatoes a day. The province accounts for 80 percent of the country’s vegetable supply.

Molintas said he has asked President Arroyo to look into the smuggling of imported carrots and who are behind it.

The Department of Finance, he said, should investigate it, while the Bureau of Customs should be alerted about the illegal imports.

"We are also asking the President, through the agriculture department, to fully implement the safety nets of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade)," he added.

If the situation worsens, the Carrot Cake Fest in November, instead of being a thanksgiving event for a bountiful harvest, may end up being a gripe session – if it is staged at all.