5. Key Commodity Performance - National Agricultural and Fishery ...

5.7 ONION
Production, Area and Yield
5.7.1 There are basically three varieties of onions grown: the red onion (Red
Creole), the white onion (Yellow Granex) and the multiplier onion, otherwise
known as shallot (a native variety commonly referred to as “Sibuyas Tagalog”).
Production is highly seasonal, with peak in March - April and lean period during
June - December. In fact, most of the supplies in the second half of the year
come from cold storage.
5.7.2 Production increased by 9.1% per annum from 61,464 tons in 1993 to
85,383 tons in 1997. It benefited from the robust growth in area harvested by
16.2% per year from 6,519 hectares to 11,888 hectares during the period. Output
further rose by 1.9% to 6,978 tons in 1998 as area likewise grew by 7.5% to
12,779 hectares. Despite this increase, however, there was a shortage of onions
in the local market during the year, prompting a substantial rise in imports.
5.7.3 In 1999, both production and area harvested posted declines. Output
suffered from the flashfloods especially in Nueva Ecija, the major production
area. The surge in imports during the year also discouraged many farmers from
planting onions, thus, contributing to the production decline through 2001.
Production peaked in 2002 at 96,358 tons, boosted by a combination of factors:
the use of good quality seeds, lower incidence of pests and diseases, additional
production areas and favorable weather conditions. The succeeding years, 2003-
2004, were characterized by production slippages brought about by decreases in
area planted due to unfavorable market prices, crop shifting, and weather
disturbances (i.e., dry spell especially in Ilocos in 2003, and heavy rains in 2004).
On the whole, growth decelerated to 0.7% per annum from 1999-2004 as area
planted posted a flat growth.
Figure 5.7.1. ONION: Volume of Production and Area Planted, 1993-2004
Production ('000 tons)
100
-
80
60
40
20
Source: BAS
Volume Area
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
-
Area harvested ('000 ha)
5- 50