The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) has identified four provinces that will be given onion storage facilities.
This is part of the government thrust to reduce postharvest losses in high value commercial crops. The project is one of the priority projects of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala under the Department of Agriculture High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP)
DA-PhilMech Executive Director Ricardo L. Cachuela said the storage facilities for onion will be located in Nueva Ecija, Mindoro, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, which are major onion producers and have nearby provinces that also produce abundant onions.
Onion is one of the cash crops for farmers in areas like Region 1, Region 3, and Region 4B, but farmers could earn more from onion if we are able to reduce postharvest losses from around 20% to 25%,” Cachuela said.
The facility with good ambient air circulation with cold and dry storage conditions will hold loosely stored onions in bulk or bags in a shed structure.
Too much heat or moisture can shorten the shelf life of onion. Under proper storage conditions with the right temperature, onions can be stored from six to eight months.
The two storey onion hanger facility structure that cost 1.5M, can store 2000-3000 bags of onions. Based on the survey of PhilMech, onion is among the agricultural commodities that are stored in the country’s cold chain system with lettuce, broccoli, meat and tuna.
PhilMech is finalizing the financial plan for the four onion storage facilities with the aim of tapping the cooperation of farmers cooperatives, private sector, and local government among others.
Onion farmers cannot sell their produce at a higher price due to the absence of proper storage facilities. Once in place, the onion storage facilities could also help farmers seek buyers who could pay them better prices since they could store their onions properly.
Cachuela said that the establishment of the onion storage facilities can reduce postharvest losses of the crop to as low as 5%, and will allow farmers and cooperatives to store their onions properly.
After the four onion storage facilities are established, PhilMech will identify more provinces that can host similar facilities.
DA-PhilMech hopes to establish the onion storage facilities this year. PSciJourn MegaManila
