THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is rushing to find ways to help vegetable farmers in Benguet as 5.8 tons of crops were lost amid nonstop rains, long trading queues and weak demand.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the DA-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) to immediately assess the situation and provide assistance to farmers hit by the weather and market problems.

The directive came after Chinese cabbage and carrots were dumped along Labey–Lacamen Road in Tublay, Benguet, drawing attention to the growing losses suffered by highland farmers.

DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan said the Chinese cabbage came from a farmer in Gambang, Bakun, who harvested around 2.5 tons on Aug. 13.

The vegetables were brought to La Trinidad but remained in a trading center queue for two nights and two days.

Because the produce was loaded while wet and exposed to continuous rain, the cabbage began to rot and became unfit for sale.

The truck was eventually pulled out and the damaged cabbage was unloaded in a vacant lot near Polig’s farm, where passersby and tourists were allowed to take the vegetables for free.

The DA-CAR asked the farmer to make his remaining harvest available for possible distribution through Kadiwa initiatives. However, the farmer said his remaining potatoes, Chinese cabbage and carrots were also beginning to deteriorate because of the persistent rains.

Carrots also dumped

Another farmer from Amlimay, Buguias, lost a large portion of a 4-ton carrot harvest brought to the trading center on Aug. 11.

Only about 700 kilograms were sold by midday the following day, leaving the rest vulnerable to spoilage.

Around 200 kilograms were left at the trading post, while another 3,100 kilograms were dumped along Labey–Lacamen Road after the carrots deteriorated and became difficult to transport through slippery roads.

The two documented incidents resulted in approximately 5,800 kilograms of wasted vegetables.

The DA attributed the losses to continuous rainfall, wet produce, long queues and congestion at trading centers, weak demand and poor road conditions.

To help farmers find buyers, DA-CAR is expanding market access through Kadiwa ng Pangulo, transport assistance and links with institutional buyers.

In August alone, the agency assisted at least 46 farmer cooperatives and associations and facilitated the movement of 32.83 metric tons of vegetables through direct market channels, with an estimated gross value of P1.2 million.

The recent losses have highlighted the urgent need for faster transport, better market connections and stronger government support for Benguet farmers facing both weather and market challenges.

Meanwhile, the DA said it has available seed reserves, including 1,551 packs of broccoli and carrot seeds, 3,390 cans of cabbage, Chinese cabbage, lettuce and pakchoi seeds, and 505 packets of 6-in-1 salad mix vegetable seeds.