BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson offered some advice to onion farmers in Negros Occidental about controlling their production as the country continues to experience shortages.
In a radio interview yesterday morning, Lacson said onion farmers in the province should carefully make plans first prior to planting.
He said they are considering building storage facilities, although for now, onion farmers should figure out exactly how many onions they should plant so as not to cause overproduction when the harvest season comes.
The governor is also seeking consultations with farmer associations and cooperatives; he wants to know their position if the province ever decides to construct storage facilities.
Lacson also pointed out that the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) has available programs that could be utilized by onion farmers in the province.
The country is experiencing a shortage in both red and white onions, with retail prices reaching as high as P300 per kilo.
Department of Agriculture (DA) undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said the country is considering importing 7,000 metric tons of red onions.
Farmer’s group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, meanwhile, warned that onion prices could spike to P400 per kilo. It advised the DA to import at least 7,500 metric tons of red onions and 7,000 metric tons of white onions to avert the looming price hike.
There are also calls to establish a suggested retail price for onions at P170 per kilo./PN
