Farmgate price of onions down by P40/kilo – SINAG

MANILA, Philippines —  The farmgate price of onions went down by P40 per kilo in the Ilocos region amid high demand for the bulbs this holiday season, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said yesterday.

In a radio interview, SINAG chairman Rosendo So added that the 21,000 imported onions started to arrive, which will prevent the possible spike in retail prices after reaching a high of P720 per kilo in December 2022.

“Imported onions have started to arrive as the (local) harvest will start in January to February and we expect the retail price of onions to go down,” So said.

All the 21,000 metric tons of imported onions should arrive on or before Dec. 31 after allowing the procurement of 17,000 metric tons of red onions and 4,000 metric tons of white bulbs, Bureau of Plant Industry Director Glenn Panganiban said.

“Last year, the DA (Department of Agriculture) was at fault after it did not allow the importation of onions despite our recommendation so we don’t expect a spike in the retail price,” he added.

Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of local red onions ranged between P120 and P220 per kilo; local white onions, between P100 and P160 per kilo; and imported white onions, P80 and P160 per kilo.

At the same time, So said that the wholesale price of upland vegetables already declined with the expected demand this Christmas.

“Almost half of it (price of upland vegetables in Benguet), already decreased. Carrots are now at P17 to P30, the decline is big. The price of vegetables has normalized,” he noted.

So said that the retail price of medium-sized eggs should range between P8 and P8.20 per piece as the farmgate price was only pegged between P7 and P7.30 per piece.

DA monitoring revealed the retail price of medium-sized eggs went as high as P9 per piece.

For his part, United Broiler Raisers Association and Philippine Egg Board chairman Gregorio San Diego said yesterday that the farmgate price of chicken remains low at P91 per kilo.

San Diego said that the retail price of eggs was higher in supermarkets, adding that based on monitoring, the retail price of one dozen eggs ranged between P134 and P135 or P11.17 and P11.25 per piece