The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered that all imported onions have to be imported into the Philippines before February 20. The aim of the measure is to avoid the competition from local products, in spite of criticism by farmers.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary as well as spokesperson Arnel de Mesa stated that the importation of onions is essential to maintain the retail price, which are currently $3.57 each kilogram. “Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. would like to work with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to ensure that there will there will be no extensions on the time of entry for February 20, and for the sake of protecting the farmers of our country,” De Mesa said.

In order to combat the rise in cost of food, Tiu Laurel approved the transfer of 3,000 tons of onions as well as 1,000 tons of white onions. De Mesa highlighted that this amount is not as big as the consumption per month of 17,000 metric tonnes. “This is only good for a week. Most of the harvest occurs during March. Therefore, import onions won’t get to the peak of harvest. This is simply to ensure that there will be enough,” De Mesa added.

This decision comes after the 2022 onion price crisis, when prices rose by $12.85 per kilogram because of hoarding and shortages. The groups representing farmers have been critical of the timing of the decision, given that the harvest season has begun and is expected to reach its peak in spring and early April. Former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor said the decision was inappropriate, pointing to the ongoing harvesting in the key regions of Bayambang, San Jose, Bongabon and Laur.

Onions farmers have voiced their concerns regarding the move, and have described it as the result of a “double hit,” particularly since plantations within Nueva Ecija are battling armyworms. Victor Danipog, a farmer was concerned about the loss of crops due to recent storms, as well as the outbreak.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) discovered that the BPI was not able to include the stocks of onions kept in cold storage while reporting the deficit of 7,000metric tons. SINAG president Jayson Cainglet raised questions about BPI’s statistics at a stakeholder’s meeting on the 30th of January.

Cainglet pointed out that some farmers had harvested earlier in response to BPI’s announcement. “We do not want to contradict the feelings of the farmers, who say that the cost of farming of onions is likely to decrease due to the announcement by BPI about the impending importation process,” the farmer stated. On February 7 locally grown red onions are listed at $3.08 per kilo. Meanwhile, local white onions cost $2.11 per kilogram. White onions imported from the United States cost $2.19 per kilo.

Source: PhilStar