‘Andap’ affects lesser veggie plantations in Atok, Benguet

By Anna Marie F. Bautista

ATOK, BENGUET. – After seven days of occurrence, less than one percent of the total vegetable plantations in Atok, Benguet were affected with “andap” (night frost) starting last Dec. 30, 2013.

According to Felix Pedro, OIC-Municipal Agriculturist of Atok, of the total vegetable area in Atok of 5,000 hectares, around 7,720 square meters were totally damaged and about 3.1 hectares were partially damaged, with potato, cabbage and Chinese cabbage as the common vegetables affected.

Barangays Paoay and Cattubo had been experiencing frost in their vegetables for seven days, starting Dec. 31 of last year, up to Jan. 9 this year (except January 4 and 5).

During those days, these specified areas experienced low degree of temperature, at 9o Celsius.

Mostly, potatoes on their vegetative stage were damaged, while cabbage was affected at their harvestable stage.

“Andap” occurs when the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius with ice crystals forming on the leaves and exposed body parts of the vegetable plants, causing these to wilt, and die after sometime.

Accordingly, frost can be reduced when irrigation is enough. Power sprayers and other irrigation facilities were provided in the previous years by the DA to help combat frost in the said areas.

Some of the DA interventions given to Atok to help farmers ensure production and availability of supply include municipal vegetable bagsakan, cold chain facility, tramlines, two of which are being constructed and four were rehabilitated. In addition to that, four farm-to-market roads each amounting to 4.5 million pesos are constructed under the DA-CHARM2 Project.

Moreover, a mini-dam, worth 2.4 million was also constructed along a creek at Paoay, Atok to help farmers with their irrigation activities in the area.

In a bid to strengthen on-going efforts to ensure production and supply of vegetables, Secretary Proceso J. Alcala of the Agriculture Department has requested the DA Operations Undersecretary and DA-RFO-CAR to prepare a strategic and long-term frost intervention program to address the frost phenomenon.

Aside from these interventions, a watershed resource of at least one hectare is also seen to help farmers in Paoay in their irrigation needs. This watershed, which is located near the vegetable area, was initially developed by the DA-SPICACC (Strengthening the Philippine Islands’ Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change) Project with the planting of agro-forest trees.

Meanwhile, the DA-CAR, in partnership with the municipal LGU of Atok, will be conducting a farmers’ forum on January 11 (Saturday) at the Open Gym of Atok to address the concerns of the farmers, and raise other issues which needs attention.

According to the DA, the supply of vegetables is not affected with the frost phenomenon, and production is still enough. For vegetables with limited supply, Felix Pedro explained that such vegetables are off-season, thus less farmers are planting it. Likewise, during this season, vegetables are seen to produce better quality in terms of taste, as pests do not infest these when temperature is cold.