Department of Agriculture urged not to issue onion import permits

MANILA, Philippines - Onion farmers are asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) not to issue onion import permits this month so as not to adversely affect the December harvest of onion farmers in the Ilocos provinces.

The Sibuyas ng Pilipinas Ating Alagaan (SIPAG) has submitted data showing a stable inventory of 500,000 bags (of 25 kilos each) of onions nationally.

According to SIPAG, this enough to supply the monthly consumption requirement of 350,000 bags.

The SIPAG data further shows that Ilocos onion farmers have an estimated production of 10,000 bags for red shallots in December, consisting of 4,000 bags from the north and 6,000 from the south.

SIPAG officials acknowledge that Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has been very supportive of local producers and farmers.

Traders are asking the DA for permission to import onions due to the seasonal demand during the holiday festivities.

The price of onions, however, remain stable at P45 to P50 per kilo at farm gate for small onions and P55 to P60 per kilo for medium to big onions.

While farmers from Ilocos are scheduled to harvest their produce this month, onion farmers in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija are scheduled to harvest their produce in January-ensuring adequate local onion supply.

According to SIPAG officials led by its president Francisco Collado, “we don’t have a shortage, but   the older inventory are already running out.”

SIPAG said Ilocos farmers are starting to harvest and have some 10,000 bags ready.

SIPAG would prefer that the government should not allow any importation of onions to help the local onion industry survive.

“How can we make the industry self-sufficient if we will allow onion imports?” SIPAG officials argued.