Tomato Prices Surge to P150/Kilo in Kidapawan Amidst Monsoon Rains and Landslides

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato— The price of tomato in this city climbed to as high as P150 per kilo as persistent monsoon rains and rain-induced landslides disrupted production and reduced market supplies, a local vegetable vendor said. Josephine Bugonotan, who has been selling vegetables at the Kidapawan City Mega Market for nearly two decades, said heavy rains and landslides have made it difficult for farmers to bring their produce to the market. "The supply is very low right now," Bugonotan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Tuesday. She added that the price of tomatoes has more than doubled since last week, when it was sold at P60 per kilo. Bugonotan said that the price hike is also attributed to the increased cost of transportation due to the bad weather. She urged the local government to provide assistance to farmers and vendors affected by the situation. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is monitoring the situation and is ready to provide assistance to affected farmers and consumers. "We are coordinating with local government units to assess the damage and provide necessary support," said DA Secretary William Dar in a statement. Dar said the DA is also looking at alternative sources of supply to ensure that prices will stabilize soon. He added that the DA is also encouraging farmers to adopt climate-resilient farming practices to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.