For three days, our @ABSCBNNews team immersed with onion farmers and agricultural stakeholders in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.
We tried to follow the onion trail from farm to market, and in the process, trace the problems of the onion industry.
Here's a quick summary of our story. 🧵
We tried to follow the onion trail from farm to market, and in the process, trace the problems of the onion industry.
Here's a quick summary of our story. 🧵
Bongabon, Nueva Ecija is considered by many as the onion capital of the Philippines. It is also the home of the annual onion festival April of each year.
Region 3 supplies the bulk of onions in the Philippines, and within the region, Nueva Ecija produces the biggest volume.
Region 3 supplies the bulk of onions in the Philippines, and within the region, Nueva Ecija produces the biggest volume.
FIRST PROBLEM: Rising price of agricultural input.
Farmers need around P300,000 to plant onions in one hectare of land. Onion seeds are expensive as we have to import them. The PH currently does not have the tech to produce onion seeds. Fertilizer price tripled over the years.
Farmers need around P300,000 to plant onions in one hectare of land. Onion seeds are expensive as we have to import them. The PH currently does not have the tech to produce onion seeds. Fertilizer price tripled over the years.
Victor Layug, an onion farmer since 1985, said high price of seeds and fertilizer plunge farmers into debt even before planting.
"Kung minsan nangungutang, kung minsan nagtitira ng sadyang pampuhunan namin, o nag-aalaga kami ng hayop tas kailangan ibenta para mamuhunan" he said.
"Kung minsan nangungutang, kung minsan nagtitira ng sadyang pampuhunan namin, o nag-aalaga kami ng hayop tas kailangan ibenta para mamuhunan" he said.
Because of high price of agricultural input, onion farms in Bongabon 'shrinked' as farmers turn to planting cheaper crops.
From 2,800 hectares in 2016, now there is just 1,800 hectares devoted to onions. For Bongabon LGU, this is a major concern.
From 2,800 hectares in 2016, now there is just 1,800 hectares devoted to onions. For Bongabon LGU, this is a major concern.
SECOND PROBLEM: Pests and climate-related diseases.
Upon planting, the biggest fear of Bongabon farmers are torrential rains and an insect locally-known as 'harabas', or the army worm.
Rains cause fungal disease on onions called 'anthracnose', which lowers production output.
Upon planting, the biggest fear of Bongabon farmers are torrential rains and an insect locally-known as 'harabas', or the army worm.
Rains cause fungal disease on onions called 'anthracnose', which lowers production output.
'Harabas' or the armyworm is so ferocious that a single attack can strip bare entire farmlands overnight.
DA's Onion Roadmap showed that onion production dipped in some years due to attacks of armyworms.
(📷: Jose Diego Roxas/BPI)
DA's Onion Roadmap showed that onion production dipped in some years due to attacks of armyworms.
(📷: Jose Diego Roxas/BPI)
Daniel Alfaro, an agriculturist-farmer, said lost a lot of onions from his supposed harvest because of diseases caused by rains.
"Eto yung tinatawag natin na nag spaghetti sya or twister. Kapag yan ay nag spaghetti na, di na maglalaman yan, nabubulok na yung bulb niyan" he said.
"Eto yung tinatawag natin na nag spaghetti sya or twister. Kapag yan ay nag spaghetti na, di na maglalaman yan, nabubulok na yung bulb niyan" he said.
THIRD PROBLEM: Cold storage facilities.
Upon harvest, onions need to be stored in cold storage facilities to extend its shelf life, otherwise, they rot.
Cold storage facilities come with a cost: P270 per bag of onions for 6 months, an amount too high for the average farmer.
Upon harvest, onions need to be stored in cold storage facilities to extend its shelf life, otherwise, they rot.
Cold storage facilities come with a cost: P270 per bag of onions for 6 months, an amount too high for the average farmer.
Farmers like Victor Layug says they cannot afford to store their onions in cold storage facilities because they need to immediately sell their harvest to pay their debts.
"Sa haba ng panahon ng aming paghihintay, marami na kami nautang na gamit, kaya di namin kaya mag storage."
"Sa haba ng panahon ng aming paghihintay, marami na kami nautang na gamit, kaya di namin kaya mag storage."
In Bongabon, there is only one cold storage facility, and it is privately-owned. Two more are under construction.
There are more cold storages in Palayan City, but most of them are privately-run, often controlled by traders.
There are more cold storages in Palayan City, but most of them are privately-run, often controlled by traders.
In the Philippines, there are 70 cold storage facilities, 10 are in Nueva Ecija.
Anthony Dizon of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines estimate that we only have 100,000 metric tons of cold storage space for onions, and we harvest more than 200,000 metric tons annually.
Anthony Dizon of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines estimate that we only have 100,000 metric tons of cold storage space for onions, and we harvest more than 200,000 metric tons annually.
FOURTH PROBLEM: Too much middlemen.
Once harvested, onions are brought into small 'buying stations', where farmers sell their produce to traders. From there, onions will be shipped to Manila where they get passed from one trader to another. This is where price of onion spikes.
Once harvested, onions are brought into small 'buying stations', where farmers sell their produce to traders. From there, onions will be shipped to Manila where they get passed from one trader to another. This is where price of onion spikes.
Greg Pesa, a trader and buying station owner, says that it's the market that dictates the price of onions.
"Ang nagdedetermine ay yung market, yung binibigay saming presyo, yun lang din ang nagiging basehan namin,
kung magkano kayang bilhin sa palengke," he said.
"Ang nagdedetermine ay yung market, yung binibigay saming presyo, yun lang din ang nagiging basehan namin,
kung magkano kayang bilhin sa palengke," he said.
Without too much middlemen, the markup from the farmgate price will be minimal. In Bongabon, a kilo of onions can be sold as low as P20 per kilo during the peak of harvest season.
This also explains lower price in Kadiwa Centers, where farmers sell harvests directly.
This also explains lower price in Kadiwa Centers, where farmers sell harvests directly.
FIFTH PROBLEM: Wrong timing of importation.
The Philippines is not self-sufficient on onions.
The Department of Agriculture estimates that an average Filipino consumes 2.7-3 kilos of onions per year, making our annual consumption above 300,000 metric tons.
The Philippines is not self-sufficient on onions.
The Department of Agriculture estimates that an average Filipino consumes 2.7-3 kilos of onions per year, making our annual consumption above 300,000 metric tons.
Since we consume more than we produce, we have an onion deficiency. To fill in this gap, we annually import.
Historical data shows that in the past years, we import 30% of our onions, and this is usually done at the third or fourth quarter of the year, when our stocks dwindle.
Historical data shows that in the past years, we import 30% of our onions, and this is usually done at the third or fourth quarter of the year, when our stocks dwindle.
To further put it in context, onions are only planted and harvested once a year. Harvests happen during March to April. Stocks of local onions usually last until August to September. By the end of those months, we become import-dependent.
But because of the change of leadership in 2022, the Department of Agriculture decided not to import and rely on local production instead.
Bureau of Plant Industry Spokesperson Jose Diego Roxas confirmed that this led to a shortage of onions in the latter part of 2022.
Bureau of Plant Industry Spokesperson Jose Diego Roxas confirmed that this led to a shortage of onions in the latter part of 2022.
The shortage caused the price of onions in Metro Manila to skyrocket to as high as P600 per kilo in December 2022.
Government only imported onions in January 2023, which Bongabon residents say is ill-timed, as harvest season has started to kick in.
Government only imported onions in January 2023, which Bongabon residents say is ill-timed, as harvest season has started to kick in.
Farmers have long lamented that government's decision to import caused price of local onions to dip. When news on importation came out, price of local onions decreased.
For onion farmer Geronimo Rocafort, this meant big losses for his livelihood.
For onion farmer Geronimo Rocafort, this meant big losses for his livelihood.
Like many onion farmers, Geronimo Rocafort lost a big amount of his supposed income.
"Ang problema namin, kapag kami ang nalugi, napipilitan namin isangla o ibenta ang mga ari-arian namin para mabayaran ang utang. Kapag naisanla namin yung lupa, wala na kami pagtataniman."
"Ang problema namin, kapag kami ang nalugi, napipilitan namin isangla o ibenta ang mga ari-arian namin para mabayaran ang utang. Kapag naisanla namin yung lupa, wala na kami pagtataniman."
SIXTH PROBLEM: Losses and low-income of farmers.
Farmers say they are already lucky if they earn P100,000 at the end of harvest season. Sounds a fair amount, but this is their income for the entire year!
This means they earn a net of less than P10,000 a month, or P300 per day.
Farmers say they are already lucky if they earn P100,000 at the end of harvest season. Sounds a fair amount, but this is their income for the entire year!
This means they earn a net of less than P10,000 a month, or P300 per day.
Because of the cycle of losses and low income yearly, a lot of farmers are already switching to other means of livelihood. Some are switching to dairy production, if not look for other jobs.
Some fear that time will come we'd lose our farmers and just be import-dependent.
Some fear that time will come we'd lose our farmers and just be import-dependent.
Onion farmer Victor Layug says without intensive government intervention, their future will remain bleak.
"Pangamba ko po, baka dumating ang araw na wala nang magtanim ng sibuyas at mangyari, puro inangkat na po ang ating produkto," he said.
"Pangamba ko po, baka dumating ang araw na wala nang magtanim ng sibuyas at mangyari, puro inangkat na po ang ating produkto," he said.
Problems in the onion industry are intertwined, and a confluence of factors affect its production from planting, harvest, up to retail.
This is just a snapshot of the story. The complete report will air in @TVPatrol and @ANCALERTS.
Catch more onion-related news on @ABSCBNNews!
This is just a snapshot of the story. The complete report will air in @TVPatrol and @ANCALERTS.
Catch more onion-related news on @ABSCBNNews!
WATCH: Part 1 of 2 of the special report on onions, aired on @TVPatrol tonight.
https://twitter.com/tvpatrol/status/1622932789959004165
WATCH: Part 2 of 2 of the special report on onions aired tonight!
https://twitter.com/tvpatrol/status/1623297400533323777
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