CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — Onion farmers in the province of Pampanga may soon expect an increase in income from their produce.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will build a 20,000 bag capacity onion cold storage at Barangay Cabalantian in Bacolor.
Mayor Eduardo Datu lauded the town’s farmers for their efforts in producing onions despite threats in production.
“During these times, the farmers really feel the help coming from the national, provincial and municipal governments,” he added.
The P41.5-million facility is seen to provide a safer storage for onions to ensure their quality and prevent them from rotting.
It will be given to the Bacolor Onion Farmers Association, which consists of 24 farmers, following its completion by October 2024.
Apart from the provision of cold storage facilities, DA is also supporting farmers grappling with pest infestations, particularly the onion armyworm or harabas.
It distributes pheromone lures and plant growth enhancers with insecticidal content among affected communities.
The agency also provides buffer stocks of red creole and yellow granex onion seeds to affected farmers and trains them on effective pest control techniques.
In addition, DA is facilitating market linkage to directly connect onion farmers to markets where they can sell their products.
This is to ensure that products will not pass through traders and will be sold at lower prices.
SOURCE: Jag Lyra D. Costamero PIA3
