Frost hits Benguet veggie farms

The temperature in Benguet province has dropped to 15 degrees Celsius and this has caused vegetables to wither.

Vegetable farmers coped with the cold weather by using sprinkler systems, GMA News' Victoria Tulad said a report on "24 Oras" Wednesday.

Patricia Francisco, a vegetable farmer, in Barangay Madaymen in Kibungan said the cabbages she planted has begun to wither because of the "andap" or frost.

She will be able to save some plants but she has already lost half of the crops that she planted.

Francisco's income has gone down that she has resorted to borrowing money from suppliers.

Barangay Madaymen in Kibungan town is known as "little Alaska" because of the cold weather in the area.

The farmers are expecting lower temperature in the coming days and more crops will be destroyed. As part of efforts to address the problem, they decided to use sprinkler systems to prevent their crops from freezing.

Rozete Molitas, on the other hand, uses a sprinkler system called "rain bird" to protect her crops.

"Kailangan araw-araw din 'yan kasi 'pag madaling araw, mas lalong magkakaroon ng andap. Nilalagyan naman po ng mga fertilizer para mas dadami ang dahon, kakapal," Molitas said.

Some farmers also avoid planting crops which are easier to get damaged during cold weather such as potatoes.

"Tina-timing na kung tutubo na 'yung halaman, 'yung wala na 'yung andap," Geriel Teo-Adano, a farmer, said.

According to the Agricultural Office of the Benguet Provincial Capitol, five out of 140 barangays in the province are affected by frost.

The Agricultural office, however, said farmers already know how to cope with the frost. The supply of vegetables, fruits, and flowers has not been affected even in the past.

This also allayed fears that there would be an increase in the prices of crops from Benguet. — John Ted Cordero/BAP, GMA News