DA expects lower onion price by mid-January 2023

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said it is seeing a lower price of onions by the middle of January in 2023 amid efforts to facilitate enough supply in markets and the anticipated harvest season.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista was asked if the target price of onions would be met after the holiday season as stated by some vendors.

“Tama ho yun (That is right),” she said.

“By middle of January, dadami ang harvest. Definitely, mag-iiba na naman 'yung price points natin kaya we will revisit 'yung SRP (suggested retail price) baka bumababa pa pong ang presyo,” she added.

(By the middle of January, the harvest would increase. Definitely, the price points would change again that is why we will revisit the SRP and maybe the price will drop further.)

Evangelista said the price of onions now is still high at around P550 per kilogram.

From P170/kg in October, the suggested retail price of onion has been adjusted now to P250/kg due to higher cost in production, logistics, and retailing, she added.

The DA will also tap suppliers who will provide onions to markets, Evangelista said. Because the department will absorb some of the costs, the onions will be sold at a cheaper price, according to her.

She added the DA will work with the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the Price Coordinating Council for this.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News