BENGUET (PIA) – Frost, locally known as andap, is a familiar challenge for farmers in the highlands of Benguet, especially in the towns of Atok and Kibungan during the cold season.
Occurring often between November to February when temperature drops to below 10 degrees Celsius, the frost has tested the resilience of vegetable growers, and many have learned to adapt.
For Sanny Lodino, a farmer in Madaymen, Kibungan, andap is no longer overwhelming.
Lodino said that he and the other farmers have developed ways to manage the effect of andap on their crops like cabbage, potatoes, strawberries, and carrots.
“Nu adda ti danum, isibog. Nu awan ti danum ket urayem ngamatunaw [diyay andap],” Lodino shared in an interview with the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR).
[If there is water supply, we water the crops. If there is no water, we wait for the ice to melt.]
Andap continues to cause losses to the farmers. He shared that changes in the plants like the potatoes can be visible after five days.
“Nu pumuskol diyay andap, diyay mula mi, matay met nu diyaypatatas. Nu diyay repolyo, nu mabalin makulta, kultaen mi nu kabigatan na. Ngem nu han a makulta, diyay mabati ket isu tiaywanan mi,” he said.
[When the frost thickens, our potato crops die. For cabbage, we harvest what we can and tend to what is left.]
To help mitigate the effects, the DA-CAR has distributed water sprinkler systems to highland vegetable farmers in the province who have been frequently affected by andap in past years.
The sprinklers help prevent frost buildup by maintaining moisture and temperature around the crops.
The Provincial Agriculture Office urges farmers to report to their barangay any crop damage due to the andap.
“It was advised to the farmers na kung meron pong any crop damages, the first thing to do is to report it to their barangay agricultural extension workers and the barangay officials. After which, the report will be consolidated then to be submitted to the municipal agriculture office,” Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan said. **DEG-PIA CAR
