Miagao, Iloilo (Aug. 9 – late post) – Onion and Garlic farmers of the towns of Miagao, Tigbauan and Igbaras in Iloilo Province will get a P200-M support from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries so they could develop an estimated 1,000 hectares of new production areas.
During a half-day Biyaheng Bukid Farmers Forum in Miagao which was attended by about 200 farmers from the three towns known as the traditional production areas for Garlic and Onion, the farmers bewailed the lack of support from the national government in the past which resulted in the reduction of their planted areas in recent years.
They said that Garlic and Onion were bought for as low as P15 per kilo during peak harvest season and since they did not have storage facilities, they were forced to sell their produce to wholesale buyers.
During the forum attended by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defenson, Miagao Mayor Macario Napulan, Tigbauan Mayor Suzette Alquisada, Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones and officials of the Agriculture Department, a financing of P100,000 per hectare was committed to the farmers through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
Targeting a total of 1,000 hectares, the financing program which will be coursed through a local bank in Miagao will involve P100-M.
Another P50-M was committed for a cold storage facility which will be constructed in a property owned by the province and the town in Miagao.
An additional P50-M in revolving capital will also be extended to the farmers group which will operate the cold storage so they could buy their members’ produce during peak harvest season and release these to the market off-season to enjoy a good price.
Judging by the quality of the Onion and Garlic displayed during the forum, the farmers of Iloilo could produce quality Onion and Garlic which could compete in the market.
The forum for Onion and Garlic farmers in Iloilo was the second such gathering aimed at encouraging farmers to plant more of the commodities needed by the market.
After years of neglect by government, Garlic farmers could only produce 6% of the national requirement while Onion farmers could only fill up 30% of the demand in the country.
In the 5-Year Road Map for Onion and Garlic Development, the Agriculture Department aims to help farmers produce 50% of the Garlic requirements and 80% of the Onion needs of the country by 2022.
(Photos by DA-AFID Biyaheng Bukid Team.)
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