THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has suspended the importation of onion until May.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that he issued the order “to prevent further depressing onion prices due to supply glut.”

The DA noted that an increased supply likewise is noted that pushed down farm gate prices of onion between P50 and P70 a kilo.

They said that this could fall further when more onions are harvested in February. 

In several areas in Nueva Ecija, which accounts for 97% of onion production in Luzon, farm gate prices have dropped to as low as P20 a kilo, it said.

Meanwhile, Laurel had already met representatives of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), in order to discuss the surge in domestic supply of onion.

He sees as among the culprit for the supply glut was due to the delayed arrival of 99 tons of onion imported in December, which now entered the country between January 1 and 15.

“But that is on condition that if there is a sudden supply shortfall, we will have to import earlier,” Laurel said.