Finally, it’s heyday for Bayambang farmers
THE more than 1,000 onion farmers in Bayambang, the Onion Capital of Pangasinan, feel like they hit the jackpot with the spike in prices of onion owing to short supply in the domestic market.
Artemio Buezon, the municipal agriculturist, said the onion farmers are now “millionaires” because the farm gate price of red onions today is P120 a kilo and sold in the market at P200. The price is expected to last till February.
White onions, on the other hand, are sold at P60 a kilo farm gate price and sold in the market at P120. The volume of production for white onions is almost the same with red onions, he added.
Those presently benefiting are the farmers who planted in September to October last year. Bayambang produces about 23 metric tons of red onions yearly.
About 1,500 hectares in the town are planted to red onions and another 80 hectares for white onions, he said. One hectare of onion plantation yields about 15,000 kilograms.
The biggest gainers are the onion farmers in Barangays Manambong Sur, Manambong Norte, Manambong Parte, Amancosiling Sur, Amancosiling Norte, San Gabriel and Buayaen.
He attributed the bumper harvest to the absence of armyworms last year.
Time was when a kilo of onion here was being sold at P10 as a result of infestation by armyworms, he said.
He expects the price to go down once the government imports 35,000 metric tons of red onions and hopes it will only be done during the off-season.
Onion farmers keep their extra produce in cold storage during off season while waiting for better prices.
The town government supports the farmers with seeds each time a pesticide attack or calamity occurs.
Meanwhile, Mayor Cezar Quiambao earlier said the onion farmers should begin to consider innovation for their commodity as added value, i,e., converting onions into powder or chips like what students of the Pangasinan State University in Bayambang campus are doing for their food innovation program.
A processing center will soon be put up by an investor upon the invitation of the local government to produce the by-products in coordination with PSU. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
