SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) –To maximize the use of harvested onions in the municipality, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) Magsaysay conducted a onion processing training recently held at Magsaysay National High School.
Led by Andrea Tinamisan and Rumcy Laredo from Magsaysay National High School, the training comprised lectures and actual demonstration on making “puto” (steamed rice cake) stuffed with onions, spicy onion paste, and onion powder using mainly reject onions that are either oversized, undersized, or unsold.
According to Marcelina Cortez of MAO Magsaysay, the training, attended by 25 members of Nicolas Magsaysay Irrigators Association (NMIA), will serve as a value-adding activity for the farmers and will enable them to utilize reject onions, reducing food waste. In addition, it will provide onion producers with additional avenues for income generation.
Ma. Luisa Jimena, one of the participants and chairperson of NMIA, is hoping that their group can pursue onion processing as the training paved the way for their members to see various usage of onions.
“‘Nung inuwi ng isang member namin ‘yung onion paste [na ginawa sa training], nagulat siya na [mabilis itong] naubos…nagulat sila na hindi lang pala panggisa ang onion. Marami ang nabukas ang isipan dito (When one of our members took home an onion paste made during the training, the member was shocked as it was immediately consumed…they were shocked to learn that onions are not only used in sauteing. Many had their minds opened about it.),” Jimena said.
Jimena added that while there are almost no reject onions this harvest season due to its high demand and good price currently ranging from P75.00 to P85.00 per kilogram, they are eying to venture into onion processing in the future as she has seen its potential even three years ago.
A dehydrator was awarded to the group at the conclusion of the training to kick-start the group’s onion processing. (DSG/PIA OccMin)
Participants from Brgy. Calawag, Magsaysay were taught on making onion puto – a steamed rice cake with onion filling – using reject onions. (Photo courtesy of MAO Magsaysay)
