DA braces for veggie frost

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is preparing contingency plans to prevent frost damage to vegetable crops.

Frosting is a process by which water droplets on plants turn into ice crystals.

Affected crops wilt and die if not immediately watered.

DA-CAR executive director Marilyn Sta. Catalina said the weather bureau forecasts the temperature will drop further from the third week of January to the first week of February.

The regional office is distributing frost-tolerant seed varieties, plastic drums for storing water, pipes, hoses, power sprayers and water pumps to farmers, she said.

It is also distributing UV-treated plastic sheets as rain shelters and putting up greenhouses where farmers can cultivate crops under harsh weather conditions.

Sta. Catalina said that as long-term solutions, farmers are being educated on the appropriate schedule for planting and harvesting. Small water impounding facilities were constructed in strategic areas to provide access to water for removing frost from leaves.

The DA-CAR office is coordinating with farmer organizations and local government units to monitor the occurrence of frost.

Sta. Catalina said automatic weather stations have also been installed in strategic areas particularly in Paoay, Atok and Loo, Buguias. These stations report on temperature drops and other data.

Three-fourths of Metro Manila’s supply of cabbage, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, beans and bokchoy (petsay) come from CAR.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala assured the public of a stable supply of vegetables from the Cordilleras.

“In case the situation worsens, DA will prepare alternative sources of upland vegetables like Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino,” Alcala said.