Farmers on Mindoro Island are facing potential economic hardship due to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) decision to import onions during the country’s harvest season.

In a move criticized by agricultural groups, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced on Thursday, February 6, the approval of 3,000 metric tons of red onions and 1,000 metric tons of white onions to be imported, with shipments expected within the next two weeks.

The decision comes at a time when major onion-producing areas in the country, including San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, are in the midst of their harvest.

Former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor described the timing as “ill-advised”, pointing out that the influx of imported onions could depress local farmgate prices.

This situation is exacerbated by existing problems like rising costs of agricultural inputs and pest infestations which have already strained local producers, Montemayor said in a news report.

Mindoro, particularly Occidental Mindoro, is a top onion-producing province, ranking third in the Philippines for onion production in 2023 with an output of 83,000 metric tons from 3,285 hectares in San Jose alone.

The potential for local production is high, with capabilities to expand up to 60,000 hectares, yet the current scenario might undermine these prospects.

Mindoro farmers had hoped for a stable market to benefit from their harvest, but the import decision has led to panic, with many harvesting prematurely due to fears of price drops.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has questioned the rationale behind the import decision, saying that there was no evident shortage, especially since the harvest season had only shifted due to earlier typhoon impacts.

SINAG argued that the declaration of a shortage might now serve as a pretext for traders to hike retail prices, ultimately harming both farmers and consumers.

The DA’s move has been criticized for lacking consultation with farmer groups, and there are calls for better oversight of market players to prevent profiteering and to ensure fair pricing.

DA’s importation comes at a time when Mindoro’s onion farmers are also dealing with the effects of El Niño, which has caused widespread agricultural damage across the Mimaropa region, according to SINAG.