The Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magsisibuyas ng Nueva Ecija in Palayan City completed its newly-constructed 60,000-capacity onion cold storage facility located in Brgy. Caballero as part of its enterprise subproject under the I-REAP component of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

Just in time for the harvest season, this P98.85 million facility is now ready to serve the farmers of the KASAMNE which comprises 17 primary cooperatives from the city and neighboring municipalities. It would increase the income not only of the cooperatives, but the onion farmers as well to benefit from the post-harvest facility.

Providing the farmers accessible cold storage facilities like these addresses their plight wherein they are often left no choice but to sell their produce at a cheaper price instead of letting it perish unsold. The farmer beneficiaries of this subproject would have the perks of being able to pay the fees at a cheaper price and the option to pay upon withdrawal of their onions.

This enterprise subproject is also expected to generate additional employment for 49 persons from Palayan City.

In 2021, the first onion cold storage subproject with a 120,000-bag capacity of the DA-PRDP in Central Luzon was established in the same compound in partnership with the LGU Palayan City, who tapped the KASAMNE to co-manage its operations. (Ram Bill Bautista, RPCO3 InfoACE)

default