Agriculture Secretary William Dar assured that there is a sufficient supply of agricultural produce, assuring the public that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is strictly monitoring the prices to prevent market exploitation.
“Nais po namin siguruhin na meron tayong sapat na suplay ng pagkain at itaas pa ang produksyon ng mga ito, kabilang ang bigas, karne, isda, at gulay. [We want to ensure that we have a sufficient supply of food and increase the production of major staples, including rice, meat, fish, and vegetables],” Secretary Dar said.
The DA-Regional Field Office 3 (Central Luzon) has likewise assured a continuous supply of agricultural produce from the region to the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the pandemic.
Regional Director Crispulo Bautista Jr. attributed the low supply of agricultural produce, such as vegetables, to the past typhoons that brought massive damage to crops in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. However, he said the supply for Metro Manila will gradually return to normal as farmers in the two provinces are set to harvest their crops in February.
“Nang dahil sa dumaang apat na bagyo, malaki ang perwisyong idinulot nito sa mga magsasaka kaya nakararanas ng low supply ng vegetables sa Metro Manila. Ang mga magsasaka sa Bulacan at Nueva Ecija ay nag-replant na at by February ay magsisimula (nang) mag-harvest. [The past four typhoons caused huge damage to farms, hence the low supply of vegetables in Metro Manila. Farmers in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija have replanted and by February, they would start harvesting their crops],” he said.
Based on data from the DA agribusiness and marketing assistance division, Central Luzon has supplied 146,245 kg. of lowland vegetables to Metro Manila since the start of the year.
Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) also showed that the region delivered some 9,467 heads of hogs that are free from African Swine Fever (ASF) to Metro Manila this month.
Bautista said the food trading centers established in the region help farmers and fishermen sell their products directly to markets.
He cited the Nueva Ecija Agri-Pinoy Trading Center, which the DA established in 2015 in partnership with the provincial government, for helping farmers and fishermen earn additional income.
“Nagsisilbi rin itong sentro ng kalakalan ng mga mamimili mula sa Metro Manila at karatig na probinsiya. [It also serves as a center of trade for consumers from Metro Manila and neighboring provinces],” Bautista said. ### (RAFIS Central Luzon)
