Frost worries Benguet farmers

TUBLAY , Philippines  – Frost has reportedly formed in Benguet highlands and is causing anxiety among vegetable farmers.

Many plants can be damaged or killed by freezing temperatures.

Frost forms if a solid surface is chilled below the dew point of the surrounding air, according to Wikipedia.

Though not yet causing damage to vegetable crops, the dip averaging 10.75 degrees from Dec. 1 to 8 is causing anxiety among farmers.

In previous years, vegetable farmers suffered millions of pesos in losses due to frost even as the Benguet agriculture office implemented mitigating measures such as the construction of overhead irrigations in the past years.

Felix Pedro of the Office of Atok town Mayor Concepcion Balao had confirmed frost is happening there, though he said “there is no physical damage observed yet.”

Frost wilts the leaves of tubers like potatoes and leafy vegetables, stunting their growth and eventually killing them.

Last January when Baguio’s weather hit 5 degrees, Mayor Balao said Atok was the hardest hit among northern Benguet towns because it has the highest altitude. He said damage was mitigated because farmers instituted measures like rescheduling of cropping and using overhead sprinklers.

While northern Benguet grew anxious, there is a mixed reaction among residents in Baguio about the chill, which dipped to a low of 11 degrees Celsius Monday morning and is expected to drop further till February.

Tourism stakeholders are rejoicing because the nip in the air is a sure magnet for tourists.

Baguio’s signature “highland chill” registered 11.8 degrees Friday morning, 11.2 degrees Wednesday last week and 12 degrees on Thursday.