PNA file photo
MANILA – The gap in onion prices between the farmgate and retail prices must be addressed, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Monday.
In a teleradio interview with Radyo Pilipinas, SINAG president Rosendo So said the farmgate process has already dropped amid the harvest season.
"Kung ang magsasaka ay nagbebenta ng PHP45 to PHP50 na puti, tas 'yung retail nasa PHP140, e may problema talaga 'yung wholesale tsaka retail (If farmers are selling around PHP45 to PHP 50 per kilogram of white onions, and the retail price is at PHP140 per kilogram, then there is really a problem between the wholesale and retail)," he said.
So refers to the farmgate price of white onions sold in Nueva Ecija province, while the red onions are priced at PHP70 per kilogram.
"Yung puting sibuyas pagkabenta naman nila ng wholesale is PHP65 lang. So ibig sabihin ang problema is between nagde-deliver sa palengke tsaka 'yung retailer (White onions are sold wholesale for only PHP65/kg. This means the problem lies between those delivering to market and the retailers)," he added.
So said a PHP80 retail price per kilogram of onions may be feasible by March once this price gap is addressed considering the farmers' low farmgate price.
He underscored the implementation of the suggested retail price (SRP) set by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Earlier this month, the DA set the SRP to PHP125/kg for imported medium to big-sized red onions in the National Capital Region.
The DA also underscored the need to intensify coordination with the local market masters to ensure adherence to the set SRP.
To date, retail prices of local red onions are set at PHP140/kg to PHP250/kg, while the local white onion is at PHP90/kg to PHP160/kg.
The retail prices of imported big red and white onions are set at PHP135/kg to PHP160/kg, and medium-sized imported white onions at PHP200/kg. (PNA)
