Philippine Postharvest Industry Profile:  ONION

World Statistics

• Onion is grown in more than 130 countries in the world. Total world onion production in 2004 is 55,025,127 MT.

• Based on the average production from 2000-2004, the world’s top producer of onion is China, contributing an average of 31.43% to total production, followed by India (10.22%), USA (6.38%) and Turkey (3.83%), Pakistan (2.97), Russian Federation (2.84%), Islamic Republic of Iran (2.80%), Japan (2.35%), Brazil (2.22%), and Spain (1.95).

• Philippine production contributed only 0.17% to the total world production (2004, FAO Statistics at http://www.fao.org)

 Philippine Statistics

• 3 major onion-producing provinces of the country:

  • Nueva Ecija - major producer contributing 56.80% (48,833.23 MT average from 1994-2003) to total production

  • Ilocos Norte (15.00%), Ilocos Sur (13.70%)

• 78% of total production is consumed as food or used as food ingredient, 10% is exported, 7% is used as seeds and 5% accounts for other uses and wastes.

• Imported onions come in different forms such as fresh/chilled, shallots, semi-processed (dried, broken, whole, cut and sliced) and powdered (or dehydrated).

• In 2003, the Philippines imports from the China, Netherlands, USA, and Spain.

PRICE (2003 Annual Average)

Farmgate: P12.46/kg

Wholesale: P27.50/kg

Retail: P38.61/kg

ONION IMPORTS DATA (2003)

Source: BAS 2003 Commodity Fact Sheets 10th Edition

ONION EXPORTS DATA, 2003

Source: BAS 2003 Commodity Fact Sheets 10th Edition

DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION, 2003

Source: BAS 2003 Commodity Fact Sheets 10th Edition

Postharvest Practices - All postharvest practices are performed manually

• Onion stalks are uprooted (either directly or with the aid of sharpened implements such as a stick or bolo to loosen the soil). Soil adhering to the onion roots is shaken off.

• Uprooted roots are partially dried in the field (also known as ‘windrowing’) for 2 to 3 days when there is ample sunlight. In areas where pilferage is common, uprooted roots are hauled to a shed and are hung on bamboo poles to airdry.

• Sufficiently airdried roots are sorted, bundled and stored in farmer’s shed or house until ready to be marketed.  Sorting involves separating the onions by size (which is determined by the number of pieces per kilo or the diameter of the root) as follows: extra large (35 pieces per kilo), large (45 pieces), medium (55 pieces), small (75 pieces).

• Before selling, the bundled onions are cleaned by cutting the roots with scissors and peeling off the dried the ‘skin’.

Technology/Information Available

Philippine Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHTRC):

• Information on losses due to decay, mechanical injury, weight loss and sprouting

• Harvest maturity age and maturing index

• Proper trimming to minimize weight loss and decay

• Onion sizer

• Best storage temperature for Yellow Granex and Red Creole

• Use of maleic hydrazide as preharvest spray in controlling sprouting

• Control of micro-organisms causing postharvest decay

Philippines Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI):

• use of irradiation to prolong storage life by controlling sprouting

• "onion dryer" — curing technology using forced heated air

Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) -developed technologies for:

• dehydrated onion

• onion powder

• dehydrated green onions

Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) and UPLB- developed technologies for:

• onion flakes

• onion powder

• onion salt

• dehydrated onion leaves

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and Department of Science and Technology

• dehydrating/drying technology for small-scale cottage industry level

Issues and Concerns

• weight loss and rapid deterioration of bulb quality (rotting, rooting) due to inefficient postharvest practices

• limited storage facilities

• highly fluctuating market prices

• inadequate support services (transport and credit facilities)

BPRE On-going Programs and Proposals

• Market Assessment of Onion and Garlic in the Philippines (terminal-report)

• Development of High-temperature Onion Storage System at Farmer’s Cooperative Level of Operation (for implementation)

• Use of Diatomaceous Earth in Preserving the Quality of Stored Onions (for implementation)

Proposed Interventions

• explore alternative storage solutions including processing of onions into more stable and storable products such as: dried, pickled, canned, frozen (whole, sliced or chopped)

• conduct R&D on chemical and biological control methods to prevent insect pest infestation and rotting

• implement a more aggressive extension of improved postharvest handling technologies

• policy advocacy on the postharvest needs of the onion industry regarding transport and credit support

Please check these pages often for updates.  Brought to you by the

Planning and Evaluation Department

 Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension

CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

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