Drop in onion stocks no cause for alarm - DA

Will consumers be weeping again over the steep price of onions?

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured the public that the prices of red onion will not skyrocket like they did in previous years, citing the start of the local harvest that is expected to replenish dwindling stocks in cold storage facilities nationwide.

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa attributed the recent uptick in onion prices to the dwindling stocks in cold storage. However, he said these stocks are gradually being replaced by the ongoing new harvest.

"There is no cause for alarm because the harvest is there,” De Mesa said.

He emphasized that onions cannot be stored for too long as this leads to spoilage, forcing some traders to release their overstaying stocks immediately.

Industry players earlier noted that onions can typically be in cold storage for six months under ideal conditions.

Beyond this, the produce is at risk of spoilage or sprouting.

Red onions in cold storage nationwide, as of Jan. 17, were estimated at around 8,500 metric tons while yellow onion stocks stood at 1,628.4 MT, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

Based on the country’s average daily consumption, the BPI estimated that the red onion stocks would last only until Feb. 1, while the yellow onion stocks would be depleted within the week.

Meanwhile, the newly harvested onions are expected to enter cold storage facilities this quarter.