Onion farmers are getting help from the government in transporting their produce to key public markets in an attempt to help them increase their income.
Citing a report from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Malacañang said the department, which President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. heads in a concurrent capacity, has rolled out its logistics support program to Filipino farmers.
Through the DA's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), the department will directly link food growers to market vendors and institutional buyers.
The support included the use of KADIWA delivery trucks to ease up the farmers’ perennial problems on logistics and transportation.
Farmers in Nueva Ecija were provided logistical assistance to Valiant Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (VPMPC) and the Bagong Pag-asa Multi-purpose Cooperative, both based in Bongabon, which is an onion-producing municipality.
From Feb. 22 to 24, a total of 4,260 kilograms (kg) of red onion and 610 kg of white onion were delivered to the L. Sanchez Farm, Batangas City Rural Improvement Club Marketing Cooperative, Ridad Integrated Farm, Agripreneur Farmers and Producers Association, as well as to market vendors of Guadalupe Market and Las Pinas City Public Market.
According to the DA, the market linkage activity as well as transport and logistics support form part of the interventions of the national government to local onion farmers, ensuring affordable food products in the market.