Farmer's Despair: Tons of Carrots Wasted in Benguet Due to Price Crash

Benguet Farmer Discards Tons of Carrots Amidst Price Crash A Benguet farmer, Invensor Pacya, recently made the heartbreaking decision to discard five tons of harvested carrots due to plummeting prices. With the price per kilo dropping to as low as 3 pesos, far below the cost of production, Mr. Pacya found himself unable to sell his produce, leading to significant financial losses. The video shows the distressing scene of the carrots being thrown away, a stark visual representation of the farmer's plight. Residents from Barangays Dominican Hill and Mirador Hill gathered to collect some of the discarded carrots. "We would lose even more if we planted them again," said Mr. Pacya, expressing the difficult choices facing farmers in the region. The Department of Agriculture (DA) is currently investigating the situation, but has yet to issue a statement. Meanwhile, market vendors in Metro Manila report that carrot prices have also decreased, but not as drastically as in Benguet. Jocelyn Tres Reyes Vibal, a vendor in Pasay City, stated, "During the holidays, the price was higher, around 80 pesos. Now it's down to 50." This incident underscores the challenges faced by Filipino farmers and the need for government support to stabilize prices and ensure the livelihoods of those who produce our food. The DA's investigation is crucial to identifying the root causes of the price drop and developing effective solutions to prevent similar losses in the future.