BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – Onion farming, the primary source of livelihood for at least 2,500 farming families in this town, received a big boost after the Department Agriculture poured in postharvest facilities that will make the industry more competitive, farmers and government officials said on Monday.
Eight onion hanger facilities were awarded to farmers cooperatives in eight clustered villages here placed under the high value crops development program of Secretary Proceso Alcala, Mayor Amelia Gamilla said.
“Ang DA sa pamumuno ni Secretary Alcala ang ating kaagapay at nagbibigay ng tulong upang mas mapaganda ang takbo ng pagsasaka at higit sa lahat ay mapataas ang produksiyon at kita ng ating mga magsasaka,” Gamilla told farmers.
The onion hanger facility holds loosely stored onions in bulk or bags in a shed structure with good ambient air circulation with cool and dry storage conditions, which will permit the storage of onions from two to three months.
Some 3,500 hectares of agricultural land is planted to red creole and white onions here.
The industry suffers from continuous attempts of unscrupulous businessmen to sneak in bulbs that flood the Philippine market.
“Dahil sa mga pasilidad na ipinatayo ng DA, mas may lakas na sa kumpetisyon ngayon ang ating mga magsasaka,” Gamilla stressed.
Diosdado Vargas, 42, a member of Santor Farmers’ Cooperative from Barangay Santor here, said the facilities equipped them to “be able to shape up life for our children.”
“Mas madali po ang mag-imbak, mas maiiwasan ang pagkabulok ng aming sibuyas,” he said. The lack of cold storage forces them to sell the bulbs even at a very low price, he said.
Lucy Ceña, municipal agriculturist, said that on top of hangers for onions, the DA also extended solar driers and rice thresher harvester for rice farmers under the agency’s Agri-Pinoy Program.
“Patuloy ang isinasagawang programa ng pamahalaan at ang ating mga magsasaka ay lubos ang pasasalamat,” she said.
Gamilla appealed to Sec. Alcala to uphold the advocacy against onion smuggling as well as ban the issuance of import permit for onions.
Gamilla also appealed to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon to keep his drive against smuggled onions in the country.
“We have to protect the living of local onion producers and traders,” the local chief executive said.
