Frost affects vegetable farms in Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines — As temperatures continue to drop in mountainous areas, residents of the upland Atok town in Benguet yesterday reported seeing frost on their vegetable farms.

One of the vegetable farmers, named Bobby, said he noticed ice forming on his crops at 6 a.m. yesterday in Englandad in Barangay Paoay.

Bobby said plants appeared frozen when he checked on his farm in the morning, their leaves covered with frost, which the locals call andap.

He said the presence of frost created concern among fellow farmers, as it may damage crops and affect harvest.

The state weather bureau’s temperature monitoring at Benguet State University recorded the lowest temperature at 12.1 degrees Celsius from its Agromet Station in La Trinidad yesterday.

According to local officials, higher areas like Atok are more likely to experience frost this season.

They advised farmers to take simple steps to protect their crops, such as covering plants when temperatures are low and staying updated on weather conditions.

The Benguet provincial agriculture office said farmers could sprinkle water on their farms or house the vegetable gardens to lessen exposure to extreme cold.

Northern Benguet towns remain the country’s biggest producers of highland vegetables, supplying at least 85 percent of the market demand.