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Dec 18

Farmgate price of onions, P40/kilo – SINAG

By J.Lo

"Imported onions have started to arrive as local harvest will start in January to February and we expect retail price of onions to go down," Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG)chairman Rosendo So said farmgate price of onions went down by P40 per kilo in Ilocos region amid high demand for bulbs this holiday season.

So added 21,000 imported onions started to arrive, to prevent possible spike in retail prices after reaching high of P720 per kilo in December 2022.

All 21,000 metric tons of imported onions should arrive on or before Dec. 31 after allowing 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, DA,Department of Agriculture was at fault after it did not allow importation of onions despite our recommendation so we don't expect spike in retail price," he added.

Based on monitoring of DA in Metro Manila markets, 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 wholesale price of upland vegetables already declined with expected demand this Christmas.

"Almost half of price of upland vegetables in Benguet, already decreased…carrots are now at P17 to P30, decline is big… price of vegetables has normalized," he noted.

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

DA monitoring revealed 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 farmgate price of chicken remains low at P91 per kilo.

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