MANILA – The prices of vegetables in the country’s markets, including those in Metro Manila have dropped due to excessive supply.
An estimated 1,000 kilos of carrots worth P20,000 were dumped after they were rejected at the La Trinidad, Benguet trading post due to the apparent glut.
The price of carrots went down to P3 a kilo at the trading post after many farmers harvested their carrots simultaneously.
In Marikina, a kilo of carrot only costs P20 from its price of P180 last year while a kilo cabbage only costs P20 from its previous price of P300.
Also, the price of pechay cut half of its original price.
Meanwhile, sili, which peaked the price of P1,000 per kilo last year, now costs P200 per kilo.
Broccoli costs P120 per kilo and cauliflower, P80.
“Baka mas bumaba pa pero kapag ka nawalan din ng maha-harvest dahil sobra baka tumaas na naman,” a vendor said.
However, the price of vegetable from Tagalog region went up such as eggplant and bitter melon.
According to Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) – Department of Agriculture (DA) director, the price drop was due to the decline in the demand after the Christmas season and also due to the same harvest time of farmers.
“After Christmas and New Year talagang bumababa naman ang presyo dahil yung demand din bumababa,” said the CAR-DA director Cameron Odsey.
“Yun mga farmers kasi natin yun bang sabay-sabay magtanim sabay-sabay mag-harvest. May tendency na naflo-flood ang market with the same product e di syempre ang effect nun bumababa ang presyo,” he also said. (GMA News)
