THE farmgate price of onions is expected to fall as the peak of harvest season nears, said Raul Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers.
The farmers’ group said current farmgate price is at P50 to P60 per kilo in most areas.
“At P60, okay pa ‘yan, bawi pa rin sila. At the price level ngayon, mataas pa ‘yan. Sa March at April, bababa pa ‘yan sa dami ng nagtanim,” Montemayor said.
“Palagay ko break-even niyan, P30 per kilo. Even at P60, okay na ‘yan. ‘Pag bumagsak pa ‘yan ‘pag peak harvest, problema ng magsasaka,” he added.
High volume of local onion harvest is attributed to more farmers planting onions because of its high price last year.
The glut forced the Department of Agriculture (DA) to temporarily suspend the importation of onions.
“Problema kung pumasok ang imports before closure ng importation. Magkakaproblema pa rin sa supply, sobra-sobra pa rin. Wala ka na paglalagyan ng bagong ani,” Montemayor said.
The DA earlier said it is monitoring the production of onions, especially with reports of armyworm attacks in some areas in Central Luzon.
Farmgate price in armyworm infested areas went down to as low as P17 per kilo for white onions.
Meanwhile, retail price of onions in a market in Cubao has been relatively stable this year.
“Mas mababa sya ngayon kumpara nung December, P130 per kilo na lang sibuyas, dati P180 to P200. Dalawang linggo nang stable,” said Rosalinda Menzon, a vegetable retailer.
DA’s Bantay Presyo said prevailing price of local red onions is at P100 to P180 perkilo. (ABS-CBN News)
