A mechanical onion seeder is a tractor-trailer and drill type planter capable of opening a furrow, metering and delivering the seed to the furrow, and covering it while firming the seed bed as explained by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA – PhilMech). (Photo courtesy of Municipal Information Office)
SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of the town of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro has awarded nearly one million pesos worth of farm machinery to farmers in this town.
Three farmers cooperatives, namely: Bulacan Sigasig ng Layon Kooperatiba, Tamaraw Development Cooperative, and Murtha Agricultural Cooperative received mechanical onion seeders with a mounted four-wheel tractor.
In addition, four associations— Tunnel Central Farmers Association, 8 Keys Development Cooperative, Sitio Esperanza San Isidro Farmers Association, and San Agustin Rice Onion and Vegetables Grower’s Association – received mechanical onion seeders with mounted hand tractors.
A mechanical onion seeder is a tractor-trailer and drill type planter capable of opening a furrow, metering and delivering the seed to the furrow, and covering it while firming the seed bed as explained by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA – PhilMech).
According to PhilMech engineers, the use of the equipment will eventually lead to the reduction in the cost of production and lessen requirements on seed and labor to 28 and 21% respectively.
Traditionally, PhilMech explained, an onion grower needs 18-28 cans (400g/per can) seeds using the manual method. The mechanical onion seeder automatically slashes the seed requirement in half and uses only 12-15 cans, allowing a more precise application of inputs. It also produces more yield compared to the two-row direct seed method which uses 9-12 cans of seeds.
The Mimaropa region is one of the top producers of onion in the country, contributing 38.7% of the commodity’s production as per the Philippine Statistics Authority’s data in 2017. The DA Mimaropa reported an increase of projected production of onion to 90,828 metric tons (MT)in 2022 as the area planted was doubled due to high income earned by farmers in the previous year.
The MAO highlighted that using the machine will increase labor productivity and help maintain the quality of the onion resulting in a larger profit and less postharvest losses.
Mayor Rey C. Ladaga encouraged the beneficiaries to maximize the use of the equipment, “Ingatan at pagyamanin [ninyo] ang tulong ng pamahalaan para sa ikauunlad ng [inyong] kabuhayan.” (DSG/PIA Mimaropa – Occidental Mindoro)
