THE price of siling labuyo (chili peppers) surged to P400 to P700 per kilogram (kg) due to a deficit in production in the Cagayan Valley region and Central Luzon, according to the price-monitoring unit of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (Amas) in select markets in Metro Manila as of December 7.
Based on the monitoring of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (Amad) in Cagayan Valley, there is a low level of supply available in Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela. The report said there were months when farmers were not able to grow siling labuyo due to the adverse climate situation in the region.
Central Luzon also suffers from a shortfall in the supply of sili. The decrease in production was due to the series of typhoons that hit the region. The Amad in Central Luzon said the supply of pepper was only sufficient for the provincial consumption of Nueva Ecija alone.
Meanwhile, a report from the Sentrong Pamilihan in Sariaya, Quezon, said the price of siling labuyo during its peak season of October to November was at P122 to P150 per kg. However, a decline in supply was noted starting on November 13.
Data from the price monitoring of Sentrong Pamilihan showed that the price of siling labuyo jumped to P400 per kg on November 30, compared to P67 per kg recorded in the same period last year.
“[In 2014] madami ang kanilang tanim na siling labuyo, nagkaroon ng pagkalugi dahil kaunti lang ang demand at mababa ang presyo. Kaya ngayong 2015, hindi sila gaano nagtanim base sa kanilang experience last 2014,” said Romer Cabral, a staff of Sentrong Pamilihan.
The Amas, an attached office of the Department of Agriculture (DA), did not yet say how long the price increase will persist.
The planting season of siling labuyo is from the month of September to October and the harvest season is from February to March.
Meanwhile, price increases for tomato were also noted in several markets in Metro Manila. The Amad in Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon said the price increase was due to the low supply of tomatoes brought by typhoon devastation in the planting areas.
According to the price monitoring of the DA Amas, the price of tomato as of December 7 ranged from P100 per kg to P150 per kg, as compared to P70 per kg to P80 per kg recorded on November 26.