'4.5 tons unsold tomatoes in Tinoc, Ifugao won't go to waste' - DA-CAR

Tinoc, Ifugao – According to the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera, a total of 4.5 tons of 4,500 kilograms of unsold tomatoes in Tinoc, Ifugao is set to be delivered to buyers in Metro Manila this week.

Unlike other tomatoes thrown away earlier this month due to lack of buyers, Tinoc tomato farmers find saviors.

The department revealed through its press release that the supposed buyers of the tomatoes were not able to arrive due to the strict implementation of ‘no vaccination, no entry” policy implemented in various checkpoints by the local government units.

Unsold tomatoes were cultivated by farmer Enza Aguinao of Tubeng, Ap-apid, Tinoc who was able to earn a gross income of P800,000 in the previous cropping as reported by the Regional High-Value Crops Management Program.

However, for the past two weeks, she brought home 2 metric tons of unsold small and ripe tomatoes from her latest harvest. She returned it to her farm, which is the normal practice in the area where it was plowed back.

Nueva Vizcaya Agriculture Terminal (NVAT) said prices of tomatoes went down from P40 to P10 for the past two weeks.

DA-CAR, in response, has coordinated with the Ateneo Manila and the Rural Rising to buy the tomatoes. Ateneo Manila agreed to buy 1.5 metric tons while 4.5 metric tons will be bought by the latter.

The department has further coordinated with the Provincial Local Government Unit and Tinoc LGU to use ‘Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita’ (KADIWA) trucks for the transporting and marketing of tomatoes.

DA-CAR likewise works with DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service ‘to look for more markets.’

Agriculture Secretary William Dar has reminded local farmers to seek the help of regional offices prior to harvesting their produce to prevent oversupply of vegetables that usually end up being thrown away.

Tomato is one of the high-value cash crops in Ifugao, with 92 hectares of production area.

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