Vegetable Prices in Philippines May Surge 15-20% Due to Monsoon, Cyclones

The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects vegetable prices to increase by as much as 15% to 20% following the onslaught of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and four recent cyclones. “What we are seeing here is normally an increase of up to 15% to 20% in vegetable prices,” said DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa in a press briefing on Wednesday. The impact of the weather disturbances will be felt mostly in the prices of lowland vegetables, as Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog were affected. Vegetable prices in the Cordillera Administrative Region, a major producer of upland vegetables, may also increase following the recent weather disturbances. However, De Mesa noted that vegetable production recovery is generally fast. The agricultural sector incurred P4.38 billion in damage and losses due to the enhanced Southwest Monsoon and the recent tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, Neneng, and Pilandok, according to the DA's final assessment. The weather disturbances also caused production losses totaling 102,791 metric tons of agricultural commodities. High-value crops incurred P1.38 billion in losses. Affected crops included upland and lowland vegetables, spices, legumes, avocado, calamansi, citrus, durian, guyabano, honeydew, lanzones, mangosteen, melon, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, rambutan, strawberry, watermelon, banana, mango, root crops, commercial crops, and ornamental crops. While rice accounted for the biggest share of the total damage, at P2.05 billion, the DA said rice prices would not be affected. The DA also said the livestock sector, which incurred P32.65 million in losses, was not significantly affected by the weather disturbances. “For livestock, none. Our livestock wasn't really affected that much because they usually have shelters,” said De Mesa.— MCG, GMA News