The Department of Agriculture (DA) will allow the importation of as much as 20,000 metric tons (MT) of onions until yearend to beef up supply before the peak of local harvest by summer.
DA, through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said in a statement last Friday it will issue sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for onions to guarantee ample supply amid the increasing demand for the upcoming holiday season. This is to avoid of last year when prices of onion skyrocketed.
BPI said the country will import 17,000 MT of fresh red onions and 4,000 MT of fresh yellow onion from China, India and the Netherlands.
BPI said these volumes are based on the per capita consumption of the country and will serve as buffer to stabilize prices in the market prior to peak harvest of local produce on March to April next year.
All imported fresh onions are to arrive on or before December 31 so as not coincide to with the upcoming harvest.
Based on DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, prevailing retail price as of Friday ranged from P130 to P220 per kg for local red onion, P100 to P160 per kg for local white onion and P80 to P160 per kg for medium imported white onion.
The country produced 482,066.12 metric tons (MT) of mature bulb, bermuda and native onions last year.
Ilocos, Central Luzon and Mimaropa, produced 462,848.62 MT equivalent to 96 percent of the country’s total onion production.
