Summer rains bring brief respite to upland farmers

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Benguet is dubbed as the “Salad Bowl” of the Philippines, as around 1,700 hectares of its total land area is cultivated and planted with various types of highland vegetables.

La Trinidad is the trading center as produce from Benguet, Ifugao, and the Mountain Province are brought here, sold, and shipped throughout the country.

Around 7,800 hectares of farm lands in the Cordillera region are engaged in highland vegetables namely: Benguet, 2,600 hectares; Bauko, Mt Province, 2,000 hectares; Tinoc, Ifugao 1,500 hectares; and La Trinidad 1,700 hectares.

An average of 1,200 to 1,500 metric tons are traded daily at the La Trinidad trading post.

Respite from El Niño

The recent rains that hit the Cordillera regions’ vegetable producing areas gave farmers a reason to rejoice as El Niño affected the area since last year.

Such caused lesser productivity since farmers can only cultivate parts of their farmlands that are accessible to irrigation. Buying water is also costly at around P30 ($0.60) per drum trucked into their farms.

Farmers from the Cordillera region call the summer rains phenomenon as dalalo – ice crystals mix with rains forming in the atmosphere. While the provinces of Abra and Apayao are experiencing dry spells, some areas in the Cordillera region are experiencing prevailing thunderstorms and rains.

State weather bureau PAGASA forecasts that the prevailing rains induced by thunderstorms will continue until May in Central and Northern Luzon – a boon to farmers affected by El Niño. – Rappler.com