No More P700/kg! Starting Onion, Garlic Industry In Mindanao

With the help of experts from Ilocos Norte, we will start the development of the Onion and Garlic Industry in North Cotabato and hopefully with the consolidation of other farmers groups in other provinces, this could be a Mindanao-wide program.
Yesterday, I received from Glen de Mesa of Ramgo Seeds the first 40 boxes of Red Dragon Bulb Onion Seeds which will be planted in Alamada, Mlang and Kidapawan City, all in North Cotabato.
Simultaneously, Vetmate Farma Corp., owned by my friend, German Panghulan of Batangas, will also launch a Garlic production program in the province.
The project will be unique since this will involve the establishment of post-harvest facilities, a Cold Storage for Onion and a Curing Facility for Garlic in my hometown, Mlang.
I recommended the establishment of the Post-Harvest Facilities in my hometown because of its strategic location to areas where farmers are also starting to grow Bulb Onion, like South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao Del Sur and Bukidnon.
In the program which I designed for Vetmate Farma Corp., North Cotabato farmers who would like to join the program will undergo actual farm training starting 2nd week of October this year.
The Demo Farms will be located in three areas – Alamada for the 1st District, Kidapawan City for the 2nd District and Mlang for the 3rd District.
Ilocos Norte Garlic and Onion farmers who were engaged by Vetmate Farma will show local farmers how to plant and propagate both Garlic and Onion.
Farmers who will later join the program will be provided with Garlic planting materials and Onion seeds, farm inputs and technical support.
They will also be provided with a marketing agreement where Vetmate Farma Corp. will buy their produce at fair prices which will be stored in Cold Storage Facilities for distribution in Mindanao and subsequently for export to BIMP-EAGA member countries.
The establishment of the Onion and Garlic Industry in Mindanao, complete with Post-Harvest Facilities, will ensure consumers of Southern Philippines that the scandalous price of P700 per kilo of Onion will never happen again.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!