DUPAX DEL SUR, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) – Another onion cold storage project is set to rise in Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya to help farmers earn more income.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture in Cagayan Valley have already conducted a groundbreaking activity for the P40 million Onion Cold Storage project with DA Assistant Secretary for Logistics Daniel Alfonso Atayde as a guest.
The cold storage project, which can accommodate 20,000 bags of onion products, is the third project of the DA to address the growing number of farmers in the province.
Carol Albay, DA Regional Coordinator for the High-Value Crops Development Program, said that the region has over 1,700 hectares of production area for onions.
“Of this, 91 percent comes from Nueva Vizcaya, hence, this cold storage is necessary for our farmers and the whole onion industry,” she said.
Albay said that on top of the total cost, another P3 million was allocated for the purchase of a generator set, pallet, and electrical expenses.
DA Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino praised the local government unit of Dupax del Sur for embracing the project that will benefit onion growers associations in Barangays Sta. Maria, Gabut and Mangayang.
“This is now the fulfillment of DA’s promise to your local government unit for the provision of onion cold storage when we inaugurated the two units constructed in Aritao in previous years,” she said.
Aquino said more farmers are now interested in planting onions after rice, corn, and vegetables for higher income.
Dupax del Sur Mayor Neil Magaway thanked DA for allocating funds for the establishment of the cold storage facility for their farmers.
“Rest assured of our role to protect this project since this can greatly help uplift the economic life of our farmers,” he said. (OTB/BME/PIA 2 NVizcaya)
