TOMATO PRICES SURGE COSTING P20 PER PIECE – DA

Prices of tomatoes up due to shortage reaching up to P400 per kilo following the series of typhoons that hit the country last year (Photo courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The retail price of tomatoes in the National Capital Region (NCR) has gone up by as much as 40% due to a substantial decrease in local supply following the series of typhoons that devastated parts of the country last year.

Based on the price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA), tomatoes were selling for between P200 and P350 per kilogram as of January 4 in the National Capital Region (NCR), significantly higher compared to P40 to P100 per kg exactly a year ago.

In Sarrat, Ilocos Norte prices of tomatoes has reached P220 per kilo. In Cabanatuan City, wholesale prices at Sangitan Public Market range from P130 to P180, depending on the size and quality of the tomatoes which are distributed to markets in Metro Manila, Cavite, and other provinces.

At the Marikina Public Market, tomatoes are being sold for up to P400 per kilo, making them more expensive than some pork cuts such as liempo, which is priced between P360 and P380 per kilo.

This was due to limited supply, the shortage has been linked to agricultural damage caused by tropical cyclones that struck the Philippines in 2024.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said there has been a significant reduction in the production of tomatoes by 45 percent going into the fourth quarter last year. But De Mesa said that prices may normalize by next month with the start of dry season production.

“Production may resume this January until February. It is the start of the dry season and then expectedly, the prices can go back to normal during this period, probably by the end of January or early February,” he added.

Meanwhile, the retail price of siling labuyo or wild chili further increased to P1,000 per kilo after reaching P900 per kilo few days ago.

Prices of highland vegetables have also increased as carrots reached P300 per kilo; Baguio beans, P200; potato, P220; pechay Baguio, P80; chayote, P80; cauliflower, P300; bell pepper, P900; broccoli, P400, and cabbage, P140.

Local red onions are sold at P170 per kilo; local white onions, P120; imported white onions, P180; imported garlic, P210, and ginger, up to P260 per kilo. Medium-sized eggs ranged between P7.80 and P9 per piece.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier described 2024 as a “depressing year” for the agricultural sector as it grappled with a “perfect storm” of adverse weather conditions and the continued prevalence of animal diseases

Source: Philippine News Agency 

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