By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Philippines’ agricultural sector is facing a crisis as high fuel costs force farmers to abandon their harvests, with vegetable farmers in Benguet bearing the brunt of the impact.
Soaring oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict have driven up harvesting, labor, and transportation costs, making it unviable for farmers to bring their produce to market.
In La Trinidad, Benguet, farmers like Romeo Wagayan and Arnold Capin are struggling to cope with the rising costs.
Production costs for cabbage have surged to 18-20 pesos per kilo, while farmgate prices have plummeted to as low as 3 pesos.
“We’re left with no choice but to let our vegetables rot in the field rather than sell at a loss,” said Wagayan, a 57-year-old farmer.
The situation is dire, with farmers estimating significant losses. Capin, who farms 2,000 square meters, expects a loss of around 200,000 pesos.
The Department of Agriculture estimates that the country’s farmers could lose up to P75 billion if the situation isn’t addressed.
The government is taking notice, with Agriculture Undersecretary Robert Yabes saying they’re exploring ways to support affected farmers, including fuel assistance, rehabilitating storage facilities, and distributing aid.
However, farmers are calling for more concrete measures to address the crisis.
ia/xf
