SINAG fears onions' farmgate price might drop due to smuggling

The farmgate price of red onions is feared to drop to as low as P10 to P15 if smuggling isn't checked, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura said on Friday.

"'Yung presyo kasi ngayon ng farmgate nasa P26 to P28 'yung pula, 'yung puti nasa P23 to P25," SINAG chairman Rosendo So said.

"'Yung mga smuggled na nabebenta pa sa online and itong pumapasok na smuggled na sibuyas dapat na bantayan. Talagang natatakot tayo baka bumagsak ng P10 to P15 'yang farmgate," he added.

(The farmgate price of red onions is now at P26 to P28, white onions are at P23 to P25. Smuggled onions that are even sold online and the smuggled onions coming need to be watched. We fear that the farmgate price might go down to P10 to P15.)

The daily price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture showed red onions selling at a low of P90 per kilo while white onions are selling for as low as P60 per kilo.

However, red onion prices are being sold at the Kadiwa market in Quezon City at P50 pesos per kilo while white onions are selling at P35.

A DA official said there was a significant increase in the production of onions after many farmers were encouraged to the crop after its price skyrocketed.

Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the Bureau of Plant Industry and other concerned agencies are establishing market linkages to make sure the supply of onions finds its way to the market.

"May tie-up ngayon sa ating mga Kadiwa ang hopefully doon sa iba pang bagsakan natin sa Southern Tagalog, doon pa sa ibang areas na nagangailangan din ng sibuyas," De Mesa said.

(There is now a tie-up of our Kadiwa with the other markets in Southern Tagalod and other areas that need onions.) —NB, GMA Integrated News