ONION growers on Thursday sought government assistance for the farmers affected by the recent pest infestation of crops in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

Makabaklay Farmer chairman Rodante Dionisio said unless onion growers will receive help from the government, fewer farmers will plant this crop season as many planters suffered from the pest infestation.

“Many farmers did not earn in the last crop season as their plantations were affected by the pest infestation. The number of onion growers will further decrease unless we receive assistance from the government,” Dionisio said.

He added that many onion growers also chose to plant red onions instead of white as the former are easier to grow.

“The seeds of the white onions are more expensive and the plants die easily,” Dionisio explained.

According to Dionisio, the traders buy their harvest at a cheaper price.

“Our onions are now in the hands of the traders in their cold-storage facilities,” he said.

Dionisio said the farm-gate price of red onions has been pegged at P115 per kilo.

He noted that the white onions being sold in the local market are imported from other countries.

“There are still white onions in the local market, but these are purely imported,” he noted.

Based on the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s market monitoring, white onions are no longer available in the wet markets in Metro Manila after the retail price hit P400 per kilo last week.

As of Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, the retail price of red onions ranges from P110 to P150 a kilo.

Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said the DA is eyeing the importation of white onions amid the unavailability of the bulbs in the local market.

In a related development, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has tasked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to lay down strategies to further alleviate the plight of farmers, especially by bringing down the cost of fertilizers.

The Chief Executive’s meeting with top trade and agriculture officials, led by DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, took place in Malacañang last Wednesday night where the main topic of discussion was how to help farmers buy fertilizers at a cheaper price, since this will lead “to a secure food supply in the country.”

“Our aim is to revive the agricultural sector, that’s why we met with Secretary Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry. We want the fertilizers used by our farmers to be affordable,” Marcos Jr. said in a statement posted on his official social media accounts.

The President, who also concurrently serves as the head of the Department of Agriculture, last month disclosed he is mulling to personally write other heads of state for government-to-government deals on fertilizer.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles, in a separate Palace briefing Thursday, said the Chief Executive is waiting for the DTI “to make a recommendation” regarding the matter.

Buying cheaper fertilizer is among the DA’s priorities, along with helping local food producers have more yield, particularly rice, corn and even sugar.

He is looking at China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates as potential partners.