Cheyenne Suarez

Farmers abandon harvests as fuel costs soar, farmgate prices crash

Article (news)

cabbage

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

Some farmers are letting their harvests go to rot as high fuel costs would mean selling their produce at a loss before it reaches markets, an official of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal confirmed Wednesday.Julio Basilan, NVAT agri-production sales and marketing officer, said cabbage (wombok) prices have fallen to 5 pesos-9 pesos per kg wholesale while tomatoes sell at P10-P15 per kg. Ginger prices, however, have gone up to P85-P90/kg while carrots are at P80-P85/kg.Basilan said some client buyers have become choosier and will not pick low quality or small sized produce even at bargain basement prices. Add to this the increased costs for bringing the harvests to the trading posts, leading some farmers to abandon their harvests altogether. “‘Yung ibang magsasaka hindi na nagha-harvest…mas matatalo pa sila kung magha harvest pa sila tapos pupunta pa sila sa trucking. ‘Yun ‘yung nakikita namn na rason, baka doble talo nila. Baka pagpunta nila [dito] hindi naman mabebenta,” he told radio DZMM.Basilan said tomato farmers are still hoping to make a profit by the third week of April as volume buyers from Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Ilocos and other provinces flock to NVAT to buy their produce.As of 8:40 a.m., April 8, 2026, wholesale prices at NVAT are as follows: Ampalaya-Bunito.................................35-40/kgAmpalaya-long.....................................30-40/kgBeans-green .........................................20-30/kgBroccoli buhos.....................................18-20/kgCabbage green.....................................6-8/kgCamote red skin...................................15-25/kgCamote purple,Taiwan c....................35-40/kgCarrots-Buhos.......................................60-70/kgCarrots-Wash .......................................70-85/kgCauliFlower-Buhos ............................15-20/kgCelery.......................................................20-30/kgSayote......................................................5-8/kgCucumber...............................................25-30/kgEggplant good.....................................10-12/kgGabi..........................................................20-25/kgGarlic-kangsowhite.............................420-430/bagGinger-Hawai big to jumbo ...........80-85/kgGinger -Taiwan big.............................60-65/kgGinger Hawai-Taiwan mixed big.....70-75/kgOnion Leeks............................................30-40/kgLettuce (green ice)...............................20-30/kgLettuce romaine ..................................10-20/kgLettuce Iceberg.....................................60-70/kgOkra...........................................................30-40/kgOnion white-Local...............................320-330/bagRed onion-local....................................40-42/kgPatola.......................................................30-40/kgPepper- Panigang ..............................15-20/kgPepper  Sultan......................................80-110/kgPepper- Taiwan....................................60-70/kgPotato.....................................................30-40/kgRaddish..................................................20-30/kgSitaw.......................................................20-25/kgSquash- Bella.......................................17-18/kgSquash- Suprema..............................18-20/kgSquash - (sophia)..............................18-20/kgSweet Peas...........................................65-75/kgTomato Diamante big.....................10-12/kgTomato Garnet/avatar big.............12-15/kgTurmeric...............................................20-25/kgWombok...............................................6-8/kgYakun.....................................................50-55/kgLemon yellow.....................................70-110/kgSaba vizcaya.......................................28-35/kgCalamansi............................................82-85/kgThe Department of Agriculture earlier said it is launching activities to assist the transport of goods and support farmers as the Philippines battles the spike in oil prices due to the Middle East war.The DA is focusing on targeted subsidies for vulnerable farm inputs and logistical support for transportation.Collaboration with regional offices, such as the Cordillera Administrative Region for Baguio vegetables, includes deploying trucks to assist with transport and exploring fuel subsidies for truckers, GDA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said. With a report by Bea Cuadra, ABS-CBN News

“‘Yung ibang magsasaka hindi na nagha-harvest…mas matatalo pa sila kung magha harvest pa sila. Luging-lugi na ang mga magsasaka."

“‘Yung ibang magsasaka hindi na nagha-harvest…mas matatalo pa sila kung magha harvest pa sila. Luging-lugi na ang mga magsasaka."