Benguet farmers give away five tons of carrots to Baguio residents

BAGUIO CITY — Benguet farmers distributed five tons of fresh carrots to the public on August 22, seeking to address mounting losses from surplus production that has become difficult to move in the market.

The donation initiative was led by farmer Ruel Padil and supported by Baguio City police personnel, who assisted in handing out the produce to residents, motorists, and tourists throughout the city. The giveaway underscores the ongoing challenges faced by highland vegetable growers in the region, who struggle with limited buyer interest and prohibitively high transportation expenses that erode profit margins.

Benguet's agricultural sector has long relied on sales to major commercial centers and retailers across the archipelago. However, logistics constraints and weak market demand have forced many farmers to seek alternative means of disposing their harvest, including donating surplus produce to local communities.

Local officials have expressed concern over the sustainability of farming operations in the province, with transportation costs and market access emerging as critical obstacles to farmer profitability and rural livelihoods.