DA says Baguio not hostile to lowland veggies

BAGUIO CITY—Agriculture officials have propagated lowland vegetables in the summer capital, which is part of a province that produces the largest volume of salad vegetables in Luzon due to its relatively cool climate.

Metro Manila markets get their daily supply of cabbages, carrots, beans, lettuce and cauliflower from Benguet. But bitter gourd (ampalaya), ginger (luya), winged beans (sigarilyas), taro (gabi), water cabbage (kangkong) and 15 other vegetables that grow on lowland farms also thrived well in Baguio’s demonstration farms from 2007 to 2010, said Dr. Jesus Aspuria, superintendent of the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) and the Baguio National Crop Research and Development Center (BNCRDC).

Aspuria said the lowland vegetable plots did not yield commercial quality produce but tests proved that lowland vegetables could be harnessed in backyard gardens in the city.

Their adaptability and yield showed that Baguio residents could add homegrown lowland vegetables to their meals, a BPI-BNCRDC report said.

He said lowland vegetable seeds and cuttings are available for distribution to Baguio residents and backyard farmers. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon