Philippine Farmers Experiment to Boost Onion Harvest
Farmers in Impasugong, Bukidnon showing bulb onions grown under rainshelter. Photo by Randy Paler/CRS
It’s hard to tell from their humble appearance in American produce aisles, but onions are a finicky crop that requires particular conditions for each growing stage. Young plants need moisture to become sturdy and large, but the final month of growth must take place in much drier soil.
Some areas of the world are naturally suited to wet-followed-by-dry conditions, but in the tropical humidity of the Philippines, onion farmers are continually under threat of too much moisture during the final month before harvest.
Agriculture innovators with CRS are experimenting with simple methods to help these farmers receive larger and higher-quality harvests.
One promising idea piloted in Impasugong, Bukidnon allows the onions to grow normally for three months, but then helps farmers set up transparent rain shelters to reduce moisture in the final month. Rain shelters enable the farmers to produce onions year-round and help to produce larger harvests. Agriculture experts will continue to experiment with this simple structure to determine if it will prove a natural, sustainable way to improve crop yields and farm family livelihoods.
- Jennifer Hardy, CRS communictions coordinator
Tags: Agriculture, Philippines
One Response to “Philippine Farmers Experiment to Boost Onion Harvest”
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March 18th, 2009 at 12:08 am
definitely interesting! my biz is in onion so m hoping i can get to see the product and be able to do something bwt it.