The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines has approved the importation of 3,000 metric tons of red onions and 1,000 metric tons of white onions, with deliveries expected within two weeks. This move aims to boost buffer stocks and prevent price manipulation by traders, as seen during the 2022 crisis.
Jayson Cainglet, executive director of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Agriculture Industry Association), expressed concerns that the announcement has unsettled farmers. He noted that many farmers are now rushing to harvest their crops before the imported onions arrive, fearing a drop in farmgate prices. Cainglet stated, "The damage has been done. As soon as the importation was announced, our farmers became fearful. Many harvested their onions early, even though it was not yet time, just to secure good farmgate prices."
According to Cainglet, this is the first time the government has increased onion imports during the peak harvest season. "This is the first time that onions are being imported at the height of the harvest season. Usually, onions are imported after the harvest, around May, June, July, or August—those are the lean months for onions," he explained.
Cainglet urged the DA to delay the release of imported onions to allow local farmers to benefit from higher prices. "Our request is to hold the importation so that our farmers can still compete at good prices. The situation in the fields is that they are being forced to sell at low prices because buyers know imported onions are arriving soon," he said. He also pointed out that onions can be stored in cold storage for up to four months, suggesting that importation could be postponed without compromising supply.
Source: ABS CBN
