Benguet farmers reel from carrot imports

newsinfo / Headlines Headlines Benguet farmers reel from carrot imports By: Kimberlie Quitasol - Correspondent / @kquitasolINQ Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:08 AM June 20, 2026 Share: UNSOLD PRODUCE A pile of Benguet-grown carrots sits on a truck after shipments bound for Metro Manila and Quezon markets were returned unsold amid an influx of imported carrots that pushed farm-gate prices down. —PHOTO COURTESY OF LEAGUE OF ASSOCIATIONS AT THE LA TRINIDAD VEGETABLE TRADING AREA INC. BAGUIO CITY—Vegetable farmers and traders in Benguet are once again grappling with plunging carrot prices after truckloads of locally grown produce bound for markets in Metro Manila and Quezon province were returned unsold, amid what growers described as a fresh influx of imported carrots.

The League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area Inc. (LALTVTAI) released photos showing boxes of imported carrots being unloaded at major trading centers, including Balintawak Market in Metro Manila and trading hubs in Sariaya, Quezon, on Wednesday and Thursday. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Benguet growers slam DA’s carrot import planFEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO Sara Duterte impeachment: ‘Tension,’ disputes mark pretrial meet NEWSINFO Marcos wants Abalos back in gov't, rules out Cabinet revamp NEWSINFO Tropical depression outside PAR may become a storm late Friday The group said the arrival of imported carrots during peak harvest season has severely affected local farmers, triggering a sharp decline in farm-gate prices.

According to LALTVTAI, the wholesale price of Benguet and Mountain Province carrots has dropped to as low as P20 per kilo, down from previous levels of P40 to P60 per kilo. Only a few premium-grade transactions reached P38 per kilo. Lower-grade produce suffered steeper losses, with medium and small carrots selling for as low as P8 per kilo—well below production and transport costs, the group said.

“The influx of imported carrots threatens to overwhelm local producers who cannot compete with cheaper foreign products,” the association said in a statement. Article continues after this advertisement The impact was evident at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post on Thursday, where large volumes of locally harvested carrots remained unsold as buyers reportedly opted for cheaper imported supplies. Appeal Article continues after this advertisement Farmers and traders have appealed to the Department of Agriculture (DA) central office, particularly Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

, to investigate the reported entry of imported carrots. Local stakeholders are also calling for an immediate review of import permits and the regulatory status of shipments, with some raising concerns that illegally smuggled vegetables may be entering the market under the guise of authorized imports. The latest complaints revive concerns raised in May after the DA announced plans to import 6,000 metric tons of carrots for distribution in “strategic locations,” including Metro Manila and Cebu.

The DA had defended the move as a temporary measure to address supply shortages and stabilize retail prices. However, vegetable growers and farmers’ groups opposed the importation, warning that additional supply during harvest season would worsen oversupply and drive down farm-gate prices. Broader reforms In May, a coalition of civil society groups and researchers from Benguet State University and the University of the Philippines Baguio submitted a position paper to Sen.

Francis Pangilinan, calling for broader reforms in the highland vegetable industry. The group proposed an immediate moratorium on vegetable imports during peak harvest periods, a national development program for highland agriculture, a university-led data analytics system for crop planning, and improved logistics and storage facilities for farmers. Meanwhile, progressive peasant group Alyansa dagiti Pesante iti Taeng Kordilyera urged the government to focus on reducing production costs and improving the marketing and distribution of locally produced vegetables.

The group also proposed market absorption programs, government support for vegetable transport, regulation of farm input prices, and the establishment of floor prices based on actual production costs. LALTVTAI said about 1,500 MT of assorted vegetables are shipped daily from the La Trinidad trading post. Atok councilor Kelly Tomas, speaking for Cordillera agriculture advocates, backed calls for transparency.

“We call on the DA to release documents if these imports indeed complied with all requirements and regulations,” Tomas said. She also urged the agency to disclose when the imported carrots were purchased, whether additional imports are planned, and the expected volume entering the market. “We also call on all investigative bodies, including the Senate, within their mandate, to look into this recurring problem,” she added.

Tomas said farmers continue to seek concrete solutions to recurring issu