In Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Mayor Ricardo I. Padilla has called on the national government to refrain from importing onions during the harvest period. During a press conference held at the Mayor's Office, he stated, "Please don't import during harvest time. Importation is a problem, production cannot sustain the country's demand for onions."
Mayor Padilla emphasized that his concern is not with the act of importation itself but with its timing. He noted that importation during harvest leads to a drastic decrease in prices, which is detrimental to farmers due to the high costs of onion cultivation. He also highlighted the impact of armyworms, which can devastate farms within a day or two.
The mayor expressed a need for an onion research institute rather than cold storage facilities, stating, "We don't need cold storage facilities. The onion research institute is needed to know the problem of the onion industry in Bongabon." He pointed out that research in soil matching and addressing the mismatch of farm inputs with seeds and soil could enhance cost efficiency and production yields.
In his upcoming State Of Municipality Address, Mayor Padilla plans to discuss the situation regarding armyworms and the insufficient support for Bongabon's onion farmers. He mentioned, "Underscoring the lack of assistance for the 4,000 onion farmers cultivating 4,500 hectares."
Mayor Padilla believes that improved research in soil testing and seedling compatibility could boost production, but noted the challenge of seed availability due to onion imports.
Source: Daily Tribune