Cordillera remains top veggie producer

THE CORDILLERA region remains the top supplier and producer of highland vegetables in the country, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority in the region.

The volume of crop production in the Cordillera for cabbage, carrots and white potatoes decreased by 1.7 percent last year wherein the three crops accounted for 305,850 metric tons compared to the 311,269 metric tons produced in 2015, a report from the Cordillera office of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-CAR) stated.

PSA reported Cordillera contributed the biggest share at 82.9 percent or 253,404 metric tons, followed by Davao Region with a five percent share of 15,297 metric tons and Northern Mindanao at 4.5 percent or 13,629 metric tons.

Of the 128,080 metric tons total cabbage production last year, the PSA-CAR noted that vegetable farmers in the region produced the highest with 77 percent share or some 94,728 metric tons followed by Northern Mindanao at 5.3 percent or 6,424 metric tons and Central Visayas with 5 percent or 6,161 metric tons.

Based on the report, the Cordillera contributed 32.6 percent of white potatoes which

was equivalent to 99,981 metric tons, 31 percent of cabbage which was around 94,728 metric tons and 19.2 percent of carrots or 58,695 metric tons.

Benguet had the largest production with 92.9 percent or 54,500 metric tons, followed by Mountain Province with 6.3 percent share or 3,691 metric tons and Ifugao with 0.9 percent or 504 metric tons.

The regional production however dropped by 1.8 percent or 1,848 metric tons from the previous year due to the occurrence of Typhoons Lawin and Karen.