CUYAPO, Nueva Ecija (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has turned over two onion cold storage facilities in the province of Nueva Ecija.

Each has a capacity of 20,000 bags or about 540,000 kilos of onions.

DA Regional Field Office III High Value Crops Development Program Focal Person AB David said these facilities will aid farmers who need to store onion crops to prevent immediate spoilage of their products.

"With the help of these post-harvest facilities, farmers will surely have a venue to store their produce, which will also help in ensuring a stable supply of onions even if it is not harvest season, especially since cropping season for onions happens only once a year," David furthered. 

Onions stored in a regular facility can last from one to three months. In comparison, those placed in cold storage facilities can last six to eight months for red onions and four to six months for yellow onions.

It will also allow farmers to properly program and market their onion crops at good prices to avoid losses. 

David added that the facilities, each worth P38.07 million, will serve about 122 members of the San Vicente Alintutuan Irrigators Association from the municipality of Laur and 71 members of the Calancuasan Sur Farmers Association from the town of Cuyapo. Also benefitting from the project are farmers from neighboring areas.

Apart from the facility itself, DA also provided a generator set, 100 pallets, and 1,710 plastic crates. 

"Construction of these onion cold storage facilities is free and does not cost the recipient farmers anything. Their only counterpart is the land or site where the facility is built," David added.

Aside from this, it is also necessary for the cooperative or association to have sufficient funds set aside for the operational maintenance of the onion cold storage, particularly for expenses in electricity and diesel if it is necessary to use a generator set during power interruptions to ensure continued operations.

DA is set to build two more facilities for onion growers in the city of Palayan and municipality of Gabaldon.

It targets construction to begin by either the end of March or the first week of April. (CLJD/CCN-PIA 3)