Selling price of onion price in Pangasinan steadily drops
FARMERS WORRY OVER ARRIVAL OF IMPORTED STOCK
THE price of onions in Pangasinan slowly started dropping since the harvest season begun.
A kilo of red onions, locally known as the ‘Bombay’ and the ‘Super Pinoy’ variants, was already being sold at P220 in Dagupan City markets last week, as opposed to the P600 in previous months.
The smaller variant, lasona, was sole P80 per kilo, while white onions now cost an average of PHP 240 per kilogram.
Onion prices began dropping, as newly harvested stocks continuously arriving from growers in Bayambang, Malasiqui, Bautista, and San Manuel have begun their harvest season.
The Department of Agriculture Region I said there were 1,214 metric tons of red onions already harvested last week.
Other growers are reportedly rushing to harvest before the imported onions arrive that will result in a much lower price and would make it difficult for them to recover their losses from their high production costs.
Ronnie Ringor, an onion grower in Barangay Manambong Parte, said the late imports won’t help them either. “Paano na kami makakabawi nito”, he said.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authorized the Department of Agriculture to import around 21,060 metric tons of onions, and are expected to arrive on the fourth week of January.
The DA estimates that price of onion will drop to P150 per kilo, which it said will still be profitable for onion growers but Rigor disagreed.
Farmgate price is presently P100 per kilo and Rigor said it will drop further once the imported onions swamp the markets. (Ahikam Pasion)
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