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Philippines to import 35,000 metric tons of red onions to cover production gap


The Philippines will be importing 35,000 metric tons of red onions until mid-February to cover a production gap equivalent to two months, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday.

"May gap of two months requirement so hindi pa sapat 'yung production. That's why we need to bring in... We'll be bringing in for two months equivalent to 35,000 metric tons," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a press conference, noting that an import clearance has already been issued.

"These red onions can only be brought in up until mid-February so that it will not be in competition with the main harvest time starting March," he added.

One of the importers will be China, Dar said.

Asked why there has been a production gap, the Agriculture chief said: "It has been historically low production that's why we need to use more new technologies to increase production."

According to Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, onion farmers harvest the yellow variety during the latter part of January and the red variety during the earlier part of March.

He assured consumers that there will be sufficient supply for the whole year, with 208,448 metric tons of red onions projected to be harvested in March.

Cayanan added that the DA also has efforts to provide cold storage facilities to onion farmers as there is only one farming season for this crop which has a shelf life of only six to seven months. —KBK, GMA News

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