Negros Oriental is experiencing a shortage of vegetable supply due to a very low production following the series of typhoons that brought heavy rains that affected most vegetable crops, provincial agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca yesterday said.

He said most vegetables sold at the Tabo sa PAO have increased in prices because of the low production. Farmers reported that their crops were rotten and attacked by pests because of strong rains.

Paltinca said majority of the vegetable production areas in the mountains experienced strong rains because of the typhoons. These areas include Canlaon City, Barangay Kalinawan, Dob-dob and Tamlang Valley.

At present, the demand for vegetable supply is only 70 percent sufficient, Paltinca said. He denied reports that some vegetable supply was brought to Manila to meet the high demand for vegetables in typhoon-ravaged Luzon provinces.

Paltinca clarified it is not possible for Negros Oriental to supply vegetables for Manila because the production is not even sufficient for the province alone.

Field officers have been instructed to distribute farm inputs like vegetable seeds and organic fertilizer to affected farmers, so that they can recover from damaged crops, he added.

Vegetable seeds distributed were pichay, tomatoes, squash and other short-term crops.

If the weather would cooperate by middle of December, there may be an increase in vegetable production, Paltinca said, adding that they are encouraging farmer associations to adopt the greenhouse technology which is more advantageous during heavy rains.

The technology allows the plant to grow despite heavy rains because the shelter allows the control of water supply.

Canlaon City office has two greenhouses, and those located at the Government and Barangay Agricultural Develoment Centers in Siaton, Bayawan, Dauin, Bindoy, Valencia and Zamboaguita, Paltinca said.*MA

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