Cebu experiencing cabbage oversupply

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed the oversupply of cabbage in Cebu after a viral video showed farmers giving away their produce for free.

At a press conference yesterday, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the production of cabbage, particularly in Cebu, has increased to 33,000 up to 38,000 metric tons from the normal level of 20,000 MT.

Earlier, farmers in Benguet gave away their cabbage for free after farmgate prices dropped to P1 per kilo.

Traders blamed the entry of smuggled vegetables for the slump in the prices of local highland vegetables.

“Those were bought by a trader, who distributed these for free. A certain Mrs. Velardo distributed about 1,200 kilos of cabbage,” De Mesa said, referring to the free cabbage in Cebu.

De Mesa said the farmgate price of cabbage at the Dalaguete Trading Post went down to P11 per kilo. Last month, the price ranged between P18 and P26 per kilo.

He said the oversupply of highland vegetables was due to good weather.

“The level of production is also good in Southern Tagalog and the Visayas. We expect high demand during the last quarter toward this quarter,” De Mesa said.