The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Luzon has announced plans to increase its onion cultivation area by 2,000 hectares, supplementing the existing 4,000 hectares. This initiative aims to address past onion shortages and mitigate armyworm infestations by introducing new production zones outside traditional areas, particularly in Nueva Ecija, the leading onion-producing province in the region. Nueva Ecija, with a cultivation area of 10,500 hectares, is projected to contribute 300,000 metric tons to the nation's onion supply by 2024.
DA Regional Director Eduardo L. Lapuz, Jr. highlighted the strategy to diversify onion production across other provinces to strengthen the region's agricultural resilience. Efforts have been made to extend onion cultivation to Tarlac and Pampanga, where initiatives like the High-Value Crops Development Program have facilitated the introduction of onion farming. Notably, the program has supported expansions in Bacolor, Pampanga, and Moncada, Tarlac, engaging local cooperatives and farmers in the cultivation of red and yellow onion varieties.
Additionally, the DA has invested in infrastructure to support onion storage, including a P38 million cold storage facility in Bataan, enhancing post-harvest management and encouraging sustained production. The department's investment in new expansion areas, totaling P10 million, has been allocated for seeds, training, and fertilizer assistance, aiming to achieve a production yield close to that of Nueva Ecija.
Source: sunstar.com.ph