APALIT Amidst the surge in onion prices in the past months, this municipality is targeting to have its own produce of onion through local farming.
Municipal Agriculture Officer Jesus Cabrera said a land in Barangay Calantipe, which used to be cabbage and mustard plantation, will be converted into an onion farm.
“Itong lugar namin sa Barangay Calantipe parang sa Benguet. Taniman talaga ng gulay, mga pechay at mustasa pero this time susubukan naman namin ang sibuyas,” Cabrera said.
He disclosed that onion seedlings awarded by the Department of Agriculture DA to the local government will be used for the initial planting.
“Ready na ang mga gamit — ‘yung seedlings, ang lupa at mga materyales. Inoorient lang natin ang mga farmers para mapaganda natin ang produce,” he said.
Cabrera added they are targeting to start the planting of seeds this February.
He said the awarded seedlings can cover about a quarter of the total farmlands in Apalit.
Cabrera said orientation of farmers on onion farming is being conducted by the MAO.
“Maliban sa agriculture, kasama rin ito sa Gender and Development Program ng munisipyo dahil lahat ng magtatanim natin ay mga babae,” said Cabrera.
The agriculture officer said harvesting will take around three to four months after planting the onions.
He said they are benchmarking the practice of onion farms in Magalang town which are now preparing for harvest season.
“Ang sabi ko nga, kung kaya sa Magalang, kaya din dito sa Apalit. Tinatarget natin na maging multi-crop ang Apalit kasi kung ang palay ngayon parati nalang binabarat,” Cabrera said.