Sen. Imee Marcos encouraged the farmers to engage in processing and value-adding activities to maximize onion production in the province as harvest season approaches in the following months during her dialogue with the onion farmers in Occidental Mindoro on Thursday.
During the dialogue, Sen. Marcos pointed out that relying on cold storage alone might not be beneficial as the electric supply in the province is not stable. This will force the farmers to use generators which will lead to additional post-harvest expenses.
“Parang ang cold storage mahirap pasukan dito sa Mindoro dahil ang kuryente ay hindi maasahan at mahal. Wala kayong gagawin kundi bumili ng sarili ninyong [generator set] at bumili ng krudo na mas mahal pa sa gasolina,” Marcos said.
(Cold storage might be difficult in Mindoro because electricity is not reliable and expensive. You have no choice but to buy generator set and diesel which is more expensive than gasoline.)
As the harvest season starts in March, Marcos highlighted product processing for onion, particularly dehydration to produce onion salt, powder, and chips to maximize bulk harvest and prevent spoilage in cases where product buyback or cold storages are not possible.
In line with the Senator’s suggestion, Ms. Jeriza Kristine Page, National Awardee of Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) 2022 from San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro introduced one of her products using dehydration to create mushroom and malunggay (horse radish) vegetable soup mix.
Ms. Rochelle Soriano, YFC 2022 provincial awardee from Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro and instructor from Occidental Mindoro State College shared that her colleagues have successfully produced onion powder. However, large scale production is difficult as the utilities of the school is limited.
Tapping the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for provision of dehydrator and pulvurizer equipment is seen as an avenue for farmers to have access in large-scale onion processing activities in partnership with local university.
“Pwede tayong mag-grant sa mga eskwelahan [ng mga equipment]…Pwede nating kausapin ang DTI, nagbibigay sila ng dehydrator [at] ang DOST, mayroon [din] niyan. Subukan natin,” the Senator emphasized.
(We can grant schools equipment…We can talk to DTI as they provide dehydrators, as well as DOST. We can try that.)
An estimated one hundred (100) attendees comprising delegates from nine (9) farmer-groups, and the local and provincial municipal agriculture office representatives namely: Municipal Agriculturist Romel Calingasan and OIC-Provincial Agriculturist Alrizza Zubiri joined the dialogue. Ms. Kristine Y. Evangelista, DA Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affair, DA – MIMAROPA OIC-Regional Executive Director Engr. Ma. Christine C. Inting, and DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Services (AMAS) staff were also present. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA)
