Marj
Dry spell beneficial to strawberry farmers
by Marjorie M. Arriola - Friday, 13 June 2014, 09:40 AM
 
Balita.ph
June 12, 2014 9:55 am


LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, June 11 -– The dry spell experienced from mid-March to May was beneficial to the strawberry farmers in this Benguet municipality and other localities in the region.

In an interview this morning, June 11, municipal agriculturist Felicitas Ticbaen said the dry spell may be disadvantageous to the vegetable growers in the province but was beneficial to the strawberry farmers.

She said the heavy rains experienced early in the year destroyed the flowers of the strawberry plants which stopped the maturation of the plant, resulting in limited production.

The onset of the dry spell in March was beneficial but only because of enough irrigation for the strawberry farms which did not flood the plants.

La Trinidad has a total of 64 hectares planted to strawberry located in Puguis, Pico and Betag barangays or villages.
On a dry season, 22 tons of fruits can be harvested in one hectare but on a wet season, harvest dips to just about 10 tons per hectare, Ticbaen said.

Price of strawberry produce is expected to shoot up due to the change of weather.

She added that strawberry farmers not engaged in greenhouse and tunnel farming are now shifting crops in preparation for the rainy season.

La Trinidad, Benguet is known for the sweetest strawberries and is thus called the strawberry capital of the Philippines.

(PNA) LAP/JOJO LAMARIA/UTB

Source: Dry spell beneficial to strawberry farmers
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