In 2023 In 2023, the Philippines witnessed a major increase in the cost of onions, which impacted consumers and raising awareness of the importance of stable agricultural conditions. It is important to note that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is actively assisting the farmers of onions throughout Central Luzon, a region which contributes to 55 percent of the country’s production of onions and is currently at a adequate level of 320 percent production. The region is able to supply the demand of the consumer.

Central Luzon has expanded its onion-growing area to 13,497 hectares. This has led to significant growth in the yield, with the farmers harvesting 212184 metric tons of different varieties of onions on February 23. The DA’s efforts in encouraging farmers to take part in cultivation of onion has brought about an rise in the quantity of onion farmers even those who are in not onion-producing areas.

Yet, problems like armyworm infestations are threatening the production of onions in the region. To tackle this issue challenge, the DA provides farmers with pheromone traps and onions seeds for free, as well as additional tools that help reduce the losses after harvest. Furthermore to this, the DA invests into cold storage facilities in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac in order to help support the farmers who grow onions. Farmers in need of assistance are encouraged to contact their local office for agricultural assistance and to meet the required conditions to be eligible for the support programs offered by the government.

Source: pia.gov.ph