DA beefs up technology for onion production

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is strengthening technological advancement for local onion production to help boost the national requirement for the commodity.

DA-attached agency Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) is set to construct six additional units of the new 10-row onion mechanical seeder (10ROMS), a mechanized planting system that would allow farmers to save on production costs.

PhilMech researcher Cecilia Antolin said four units have already been deployed in Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Occidental Mindoro, and six more will be built in time for the planting season by November and December.

“Among our problems in the industry include high seeding rate, insufficiency of laborers, and low yield,” Antolin said.

A unit would need an investment of P120,000 and could increase the yield to an additional five metric tons (MT) per hectare.

Data showed that the average onion yield in the country is 10 to 12 MT per hectare, almost 50 percent lower than the world average of 21 MT per hectare.

The mechanical seeder is a tractor-trailed and drill type planter capable of opening a furrow, metering and delivering the seed to the furrow, and covering it while firming the seed bed.

PhilMech said the use of 10ROMS would lead to the reduction in the cost of production and lessen requirements on seed and labor, which constitute 28 and 21 percent respectively.

Traditionally, an onion grower needs 18 to 28 cans (400 grams per can) seeds using the broadcast method. The 10-ROMS slashes the seed requirement in half and uses only 12 to 15 cans.