An official of the Department of Agriculture on Saturday confirmed that retail prices of vegetables have increased by at least P20 per kilo and said this was too much compared to the expected movement in farm products.
In a radio interview, DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said that traders were allegedly taking advantage of the situation following the devastation of Super Typhoon “Karding”.
“Based on our daily monitoring in at least 13 markets in Metro Manila, we recorded an increase from P10 to P20 per kilo. While we expected the movement in the agriculture products, it should not be that high,” Evangelista.
Evangelista added that the DA recorded a minimal movement in the prices of vegetables in the various trading posts where the traders source the agriculture products.
“Our reference is the trading posts, and the increase of farm products was between P2 to P5 per kilo. Trades will only add the cost of transportation and roads were not affected by the super typhoon,” Evangelista said.
According to Evangelista, the DA is now coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to help control the overpricing of vegetables.
“We will seek the assistance of the market masters as we need the help of the LGUs to prevent unnecessary increase in the prices of vegetables,” Evangelista added.
Based on the daily market monitoring of the DA, retail prices of red onions range from P190 to P240 per kilo; bitter gourd, P90 to P120 per kilo; tomatoes, P120 to P160 per kilo; pechay, P70 to P100 per kilo; string beans, P80 to P100 per kilo; eggplant, P80 to P100 per kilo; calamansi, P80 to P100 per kilo; carrots, P140 to P160 per kilo; Baguio beans, P100 to P120; potatoes, P60 to P100 per kilo; saute, P30 to P50 per kilo; cabbage, P80 to P100 per kilo.
The DA has reported that Karding’s damage to agriculture has reached almost P3 billion.