The Department of Agriculture has inaugurated two onion cold storage units in Nueva Ecija, each with a 20,000 bag capacity, translating to approximately 540,000 kilograms. A.B. David, the High Value Crops Development Program Focal Person for DA Regional Field Office III, highlighted the significance of these facilities in supporting local farmers by offering a solution for the storage of onion crops, mitigating rapid spoilage.
The onion cold storage facility turned over to the Calancuasan Sur Farmers Association from Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, has a capacity of 20,000 bags or about 540,000 kilos of onions. (DA Central Luzon)
"With the help of these post-harvest facilities, farmers will surely have a venue to store their produce, which will also help in ensuring a stable supply of onions even if it is not harvest season, especially since cropping season for onions happens only once a year." He noted the extended shelf life of onions in cold storage, with red onions lasting six to eight months and yellow onions four to six months, compared to one to three months in standard conditions.
The initiative aims to assist farmers in effectively planning and marketing their onion produce. The facilities are set to benefit members of the San Vicente Alintutuan Irrigators Association and the Calancuasan Sur Farmers Association, along with farmers from adjacent areas. The project also includes the provision of a generator set, 100 pallets, and 1,710 plastic crates. David clarified that the construction of these facilities was fully funded, requiring no financial input from the beneficiary farmers except for the provision of land.
Source: punto.com.ph