The Department of Agriculture (DA) has urged local tomato farmers to coordinate with the agency for direct market linkages as farmgate prices have dropped to as low as PHP 4 to PHP 5 per kilogram in some areas.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa assured farmers that the agency is ready to assist in finding reasonable market prices and buyers for their produce. He encouraged them to seek help from municipal agriculturists or DA regional field offices to connect with markets, including Kadiwa centers.
“We will help them find a market, whether in nearby public markets or our Kadiwa centers in different regions,” De Mesa said.
He also called on traders to refrain from taking advantage of farmers by purchasing their produce at unreasonably low prices. To address the ongoing issue of fluctuating farmgate prices, De Mesa emphasized the need for cold storage facilities to preserve perishable crops like tomatoes and onions, preventing supply gluts from drastically affecting farmers’ income.
The DA has previously announced that the Mega Cold Storage Facility in Taguig City, which will have a storage capacity of 5,000 metric tons, is expected to be operational by 2026. This project aims to help stabilize agricultural prices and reduce post-harvest losses.
