CAUAYAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 2 assured that measures are being studied to prevent farmers from discarding their tomato harvests due to oversupply.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo Cauayan, DA Region 2 Regional Director Dr. Mary Rose Aquino stated that during the Organic Agriculture Congress, DA Region 2 and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Nueva Vizcaya discussed the improvement of the composting facility near the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal Inc. (NVAT), provided by the DA.
The facility will be upgraded to handle rejected vegetable harvests, particularly tomatoes, which will be converted into organic fertilizer.
This initiative aims to help farmers make use of spoiled crops, especially tomatoes. Dr. Aquino noted that tomatoes are highly perishable, and buyers prefer high-quality produce as they transport them to various parts of the country.
Regarding tomato processing, DA has a facility near NVAT, although some adjustments are still being made before it becomes fully operational.
She reminded farmers not to dispose of spoiled vegetables indiscriminately and encouraged them to turn these into organic fertilizer for future use.
If the crops are still usable, she suggested they be donated, as some farmers have already been doing by distributing them to market-goers.