Do you want to advance in life? Try onion farming! This article will teach you how to grow onions and how to start and grow onion farming in the Philippines as a business. Onion farming is one of the most profitable crops to grow especially in the Philippines where onion is always in shortage.
Onion farming is one of the most profitable agricultural products to plant in the Philippines and most farmers in Central Luzon are actually making a good living because of this. Especially during the months when onions have high-price lice the “ber” months.
Benefits of onions
Before we discuss onion planting and onion farming, it is important that you first know the importance of onion to us besides its use in cooking. What is an onion? What nutrients does it contain?
- Onion is a type of vegetable used in cooking.
- Its tuber or root product causes tears when cut if not washed.
Why do we cry when peeling or slicing an onion? Like garlic, onions are rich in sulfur compounds. Also due to the sulfur content, onion is antibiotic. This medicine has been proven to be effective in goiter.
It is also effective in those with jaundice and even in those with hemorrhoids. Onions are also rich in Vitamin C.
Now that you know the benefits of onion to your body, let’s move on to planting it.
Onion Farming: Methods of Growing Onions
If you love planting and want to enter the onion farming business, you need to study the following:
- Soil/land preparation for onion. Onion thrives in any variety of soil: Sandy loam, and clay loam, as long as there are good drainage facilities and an optimum pH of 6.5 – 7.5.
- Plow and rake the soil to plant onions, and fertilize the soil, it is better to use organic fertilizer.
- Clean the soil and remove weeds around the plot. The soil needs to be moist or moist to make the onion roots stronger.
- Climatic conditions that matter to the onion. For onion growing, it is better to have a temperature of 13-24 degrees Celsius, and for fruiting, it is 30-35 degrees Celsius.
- Onion yields are expected to be better when the weather is mild, there is not much rain and extreme heat.
- Irrigation or irrigation in onion farming. The onion orchard needs good irrigation.
- Irrigate the field three days after planting.
- Then it will follow after 7-10 days depending on soil conditions and weather.
- Also, avoid giving too much water to prevent the drowning of new onion plants.
- Weed control/herbicide. Weeds are one of the main enemies of crops, remove weeds that grow in the field itself and even around it.
- Chemical spraying can be done for weeds, and it can also be done manually with your hands.
Onion Farming as Business
Did you know that you can make a lot of money by planting onions? Our fellow farmers have proven that.
Here in the Philippines, farmers plant onions before Undas (All Saints Day) to get a good harvest.
Since onion is needed by people in their daily cuisines and is also used in medicine, it is not difficult to sell and its charisma is strong when it comes to the market. So onion farming is a popular business.
Questions related to onion farming in the Philippines
What is the best month to plant onions in the Philippines?
For best growth and bulb quality, onion requires cooler weather during the early stages of growth and a dry atmosphere with moderately high temperature for bulb development & maturation. Planting can be done as early as October (yellow onions) to as late as January (red onions).
What province is the top producer of onion in the Philippines?
Cagayan Valley, the major producer of onion for this quarter with 11.80 metric tons, shared 50.6 percent of the country’s total production. The other major producing region was Ilocos Region with a 35.6 percent share.
How many months do onions take to grow?
How long do onions take to grow? Onions require 90-100 days to mature from seed, which is around four months. From sets, onions are ready to harvest after around 80 days or just under three months.
Which fertilizer is best for onions?
Onions require a high source of nitrogen. A nitrogen-based fertilizer (ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate) should be applied at the rate of one cup per twenty feet of a row. The first application should be about three weeks after planting and then continue with applications every 2 to 3 weeks.
How many bulbs of onion per hectare?
For growing sets, sow seed 70 to 80 kg per hectare in bands. Approximately 2000 to 4000 kg of sets are required per hectare (depending on the set size). Seed onions (seed) no deeper than 5 to 1.5 cm.
Why is there an onion shortage in the Philippines?
Driven by rising heat and unpredictable weather, the pest has devastated farms and caused a nationwide onion shortage. In places like the Philippines, unsustainable farming practices leave rural communities unable to adapt, prompting calls to shift to smarter and greener farming.
Where is the onion capital of the Philippines?
Bongabon, Nueva Ecija (Onion Capital of the Philippines)
See Also:
- 10 of the Most Colorful Chicken Breeds
- Eggplant Farming in the Philippines
- Quail Farming in the Philippines
- Goat Farming in the Philippines
- Duck Farming in the Philippines
[…] her visit to onion farmers in Nueva Ecija, DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the farm-gate price has declined […]