Squashes in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, are rotting because they had not been sold since the pandemic last year.
The squash was left piled up for few weeks, which the farmers had to work for 3 months.
If a trader buys, it costs up to P2 per kilo even though it should be P7 to P10.
“Ngayon po, marami pa rin pong kalabasa sa amin… hindi sabay-sabay na nakakalakal ang mga kalabasa,” said Orlando Bautista, chairperson of Barangay Batitang sa Zaragoza.
Today, the group The Kalabasa Project buys squash at P7 per kilo using monetary donations to help the bereaved farmers.
It is said that the squash is brought to Metro Manila to be distributed to community pantries.
“We have moved around 135,000 kilograms of kalabasa around Manila and the GMA (Greater Manila Area) po,” said Kay Jonatas, project lead of The Kalabasa Project.
According to Ana Patricia Non, who started the community pantry movement, apart from squash, they also buy other vegetables – such as tomatoes and sayote – directly from farmers using donation money.
It is not an oversupply because many are still hungry.
Squashes in Nueva Ecija rotting due to few buyers
“Oversupply kung ‘yong mga tao ay nakakakakain nang maayos at sobra, pero in this case, ang nangyayari, kaya siya tinatapon kasi binibili nang barat sa farmers sa napakamurang halaga,” said Non.
But it is also said that the donations received by the groups to buy the farmers’ products are not that big.
There are still 200,000 kilos of squash unsold in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, and groups are worried about whether they will be able to buy more.
“I think it’s the compassion fatigue already. We are reaching out to as many people as we can kasi hindi rin natin maiiwasan… hindi nga ito long-term solution,” said Jonatas.
“Limited na ‘yong resources,” said Non.
As a result, the farmers called on the government to help rebuild their livelihood.
According to the Department of Agriculture, they are talking to those who can buy the products, and they are working on ways to prevent further damage or disposal.
“We are strengthening our partnership with the local government unit kasi ‘yong cropping calendar, we will know what is being planted, where, when and when it’s going to be harvested at gaano karaming volume. If we have those information, there is no reason para hindi mabenta ng farmer ‘yong kanya pong produkto,” said Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista.
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