SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- The municipal agriculturist of Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro is expecting  a 60 percent increase in onion production this year, with a projected yield of 5,279.2 metric tons (MT) this harvest season.

One of the contributing factors to this development is the profitable prices of onion in the market.

“Last year, may government support price kagaya ng pinag usapan sa Senate kaya hindi bumaba [ang presyo ng onion]. Nakita na malaki ang kinita ng [mga farmer noon kaya], mas marami ang nag-engage sa onion production,” Arman Gatchalian of the Municipal Agriculture Office explained.

[Last year, there was a government-supported price like the ones discussed in the Senate which prevented the decline of onion prices. People saw that onion farmers earned a lot, and that encouraged them to engage in onion production as well.]

Gatchalian added that the lack of technical knowledge in onion production also made farmers hesitate into onion production. Consequently, the local government provided technical briefings to capacitate farmers, particularly on pest control.

“Ang Sablayan kasi in particular, [ay kilala sa pagprodyus ng] rice at corn. Ngayon, ‘yung technology ng sibuyas, continuous po yung programa ng LGU Sablayan na magconduct ng farmers field school, at continuous na technical briefing para sa mga bagong onion farmers,” the Agriculturist said.

Photos by Ace Sapit/PIA MIMAROPA

[Sablayan is known for producing rice and corn. Currently, the LGU Sablayan is continuously conducting farmers' field school and technical briefings especially for new onion farmers to teach technologies in onion farming.]

Gatchalian added that the local government is concentrating its efforts on the expansion of agricultural areas, particularly for onion production in the municipality to prevent problems accompanied by onion shortage. The agriculturist reported that there are 7,000 ha potential area for expansion.

In 2023, Sablayan produced 3,210 MT of onion, with 244 farmers cultivating a total area of 321 hectares. 

This year, the land area for onion expanded by up to 64 percent, with 521 hectares. In addition, the total number of onion farmers grew to 359.

To further support the onion farmers, the MAO’s agricultural extension workers (AEWs) regularly monitor the population of fall armyworms, locally known as harabas. Pheromone lures are also installed in onion plantations to ensure that the pests remain under control to prevent infestation under the crop protection program.

The harvest season starts from January to February until April. Prices of onion in the province range from P55 to P70 a kilo, according to the recent price monitoring conducted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)