Farmers’ group wants gov’t to address gap between farmgate, retail onion prices

The government should address the gap between the price of onions sold by local farmers and those at which they are bought by consumers, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said over the weekend.

According to the farmers’ group, the farmgate price of onions peaks at P250 to P300 a kilogram, and retail prices should not exceed P400 per kilogram at any time.

Red onions, however, have hit up to P720 per kilogram in some markets.

“Instead of contemplating on new onion imports, that will only result in depressed farmgate prices of onions, with the onset of the harvest season, the DA should rather concentrate on the huge gap between the farmgate prices and retail prices of onions,” said SINAG.

“Another round of onion imports will not guarantee reduced retail prices if the DA will remain useless in addressing the gap between the farmgate and retail prices,” it added.

The DA last month said it was not considering the importation of onions, even as prices surpassed the suggested retail price of P170 per kilogram set in October.

“Our onion farmers are more than aware that the current good prices of onions at the farm level are being used to justify the high retail prices of onions,” SINAG said.

GMA News Online had sought comment from DA on the SINAG statement, but the department had yet to respond as of posting time.

However, DA Spokesperson Rex Estoperez earlier said that market prices are dictated by supply and demand and are set to be addressed once the harvest comes early this year. — DVM, GMA Integrated News