DA partners with Bombo Radyo for onion suitability trial in Butuan
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 is part of the celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolk 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 part
of the private sector, together with the 18 local government units, that has
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 market
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 witness 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 partnership is 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 showing their support and advocacy to 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 temperature 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 ensuring good growth. The bulb onion is set
to be harvested after 120 days. (Vanessa P. Sanchez, DA13-RAFIS/PIA Caraga)