Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has initiated stringent monitoring and intervention measures to protect tomato farmers as farmgate prices continue to fall.

According to Philippines News Agency, the farmgate price of local tomatoes has plummeted to as low as PHP7 per kg in regions including the Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac. The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) provided recent data highlighting these significant price drops.

In a Zoom interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa emphasized the department's efforts to verify actual prices on the ground. He mentioned ongoing monitoring by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), which is coordinating with tomato farmers to assess the situation.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has directed regional field offices to explore options for purchasing tomatoes directly from farmers and establishing marketing arrangements. The DA is also considering selling the tomatoes through Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) outlets as a potential intervention strategy.

De Mesa also highlighted the collaboration between regional offices and local government units (LGUs), along with other stakeholders, to assess market linkages. This coordination aims to ensure reasonable buying prices ahead of the peak harvest season, which typically occurs from March to May.

SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet stressed the need for a buying price of at least PHP15 per kg to guarantee farmers' income. De Mesa noted that such interventions are essential to avoid previous instances where prices fell to as low as PHP5 per kg.

De Mesa also suggested that LGUs have the means to assist local farmers, monitor marketing agreements, and prevent potential produce disposal. To address potential surpluses and prevent seasonal price drops, he proposed establishing tomato processing facilities as a long-term solution.