The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga tied up with local media Radyo Bombo Butuan for the suitability trial of bulb onion in Butuan City.

On May 9, DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr. led the members of the Regional Management Committee in the ceremonial transplanting of onion seedlings last May 9 at the Bombo Radyo grounds. The activity was part of the celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month 2023.

DA-Caraga provided the seeds and fertilizer while the City Agriculture Office assisted the Bombo Radyo employees in the land preparation and growing of the seedlings.

Bombo Radyo Butuan is among the 18 Local Government Units and private sector that have partnered with the DA – Caraga to conduct an onion suitability trial.

In the early months of the year, prices of onion soared to as high as P600 per kilo in the local markets because of the low supply. This prompted the DA-Caraga to try the suitability of onion production in the region amidst previous concerns on climate suitability.

Director Oñate said that the trial will serve as a show window for other people to see that onion production in the region can be done. “It would not be right to say it is not suitable here without trying first and seeing the results,” he said.

Meanwhile, Regional Agriculture & Fishery Council Chairperson and Farmer Director Christopher H. Lindo thanked the management of the Bombo Radyo-Butuan for the partnership. He said such partnerships are very important forward the agriculture industry of Caraga.

On the other hand, Station Manager Benjie Balansag said that the station’s partnership with the DA is their way of helping advocate for backyard gardening and contributing to the nation’s drive for food sufficiency. “We actually started planting vegetables during the height of the pandemic and we saw its positive impact, so we decided to continue the initiative to influence others such as our listeners to do the same,” Balansag said.

Onion requires dry and moderately high temperatures which poses a challenge to Caraga since the region has Type II Climate with no pronounced dry season. With this, appropriate technologies need to be practiced to ensure good growth. The bulb onion is set to be harvested after 120 days. (vanessa p. sanchez/DA13-RAFIS)