Provincial Capitol Lingayen (March 10) and Sta. Barbara (March 11), Pangasinan – Pangasinan Provincial Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) conducted Stakeholders Consultations to update their Provincial Commodity Investment Plan for Peanut and Onion commodities.

The consultation was attended by growers, traders and processors of peanut and onion commodities. Top producing municipalities/cities were represented by municipal agriculturists and associations.

Pangasinan PPMIU Head Benita M. Pizarro spearheaded the consultations for peanut and onion commodity. She presented constraints, opportunities and proposed interventions in each commodity relative to their value chain segments. “Kayo ang partner ng government in developing the peanut (onion) industry,” she said.

The use of imported peanuts by local processors is one of the issues addressed during the Peanut Stakeholders Consultation in Lingayen.

Mabel Mendoza, representative of Romana which is one of the biggest peanut processor in the province, expressed processors’ sentiments in “pool vaulting” and higher buying price for local peanut produce. She said that in terms of quality and price, imported peanuts are better over local peanut produce.

In response, peanut growers requested for a Farmer Field School to introduce new technologies in peanut growing to lessen cost of production. They also wanted to organize a federated group of peanut growers to manage post-harvest activities to produce high quality peanut.

Meanwhile, onion stakeholders gathered at the Agricultural Training Institute in Santa Barbara to provide input for the Pangasinan PCIP for onion commodity on March 11, 2015.

At the height of issues regarding very low farm-gate price for fresh onion, onion stakeholders clamoured for a government mandate to set a “support price” for onion commodity.

“Kung sa bigas nakapag-set ang NFA ng P17 na support price, bakit hindi nila magawa sa onion?” said one onion farmer. Support Price is the regulated price set by the government to prevent income loss among farmers.

Moreover in response to the issue on higher farm-gate price of local onions, onion growers suggested to organize an association assisted by the government which will import the inputs needed in onion production.

“Mataas ang presyo ng sibuyas sa Pilipinas kasi ang nagtitinda ng mga pestisidiyo at abono ay mga pribadong kumpanya,” another onion farmer said.

Onion growers also demanded for a common service facility where post-harvest activities like cleaning, hanging and drying will be done.

The updated Pangasinan PCIP for onion and peanut commodities will be submitted to the Regional Project Coordination Office 1 (RPCO1)upon approval of the Provincial Development Council (PDC). The PCIP will be the basis of subprojects to be proposed under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). (Ilocos InfoACE)