Frost destroys Benguet, Mt Province veggie farms

BUGUIAS, Benguet – As the days became chillier, frost destroyed vegetables here and in other towns of Benguet and Mountain Province particularly along the Mt Data area but the extent of damage has yet to be determined, local officials said.

Despite this, Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said vegetable supply in the province is stable.

Around 75 percent of vegetables consumed in Metro Manila and parts of the lowlands come from Benguet and Mountain Province.

In La Trinidad, Benguet’s capital town, provincial agriculturist Lolita Bentrez said frost has been reported but no huge damage was felt.

Frost destroyed vegetables worth millions of pesos in northern Benguet, especially in Atok town the past years.

Frost wilts the leaves of crops and stunts growth.

In Baguio City, temperature further dropped to 9.6 degrees Celsius from 9.8 degrees and 10 degrees at presstime.

The lowest temperature in the city was 6.3 degrees Celsius recorded on Jan. 18, 1961.
In Atok and northern Benguet towns of Kibungan, Kabayan, Buguias, Mankayan and Kapangan, temperature further dropped.

According to Bentrez , frost could damage crops where there is little wind movement.
Some farmers in Benguet have installed overhead irrigation systems to mitigate effects of frost.

Others rotated their crop system.