Fungal disease feared to shrink onion supply

By Freddie G. Lazaro

BADOC, Ilocos Norte – A decline in onion supply from Ilocos Norte is feared in the coming weeks due to the prevalence of fungal disease infection in “shallot tagalog” (native red onion) farms.

This year’s planting season, the areas planted with the red onion variety in Badoc town have dwindled by almost 50 percent because of the sudden occurrence of the plant disease, said Agricultural Technologist Cornelio Dinong.

Dinong said the most common type of fungal diseases in onions – the “anthracnose” and the “purple blotch” – usually develop during the drizzle and rainy periods. The occurrence of the diseases is aggravated by the abrupt changing of climate.

“Some farmers in our town have chosen to grow hybrid corn, mongo and high-value vegetables in their field in lieu to onion,” he said.

To eliminate the existence of the fungal disease-causing microorganisms in the farm, local farmers should practice soil sterilization and crop rotation before they plant onions.

Despite the decline in Badoc town’s land area planted with onion by almost 500 hectares, the town remains the top onion producer in the province. This developed as the annual average land area planted with the crop in the 18 other towns and cities in the province are ranging from one hectare to 200 hectares.

Data from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) from 2010 to 2015 showed that the annual average area of farm land in Badoc town planted with red shallot onion variety was 1,000 hectares with 659 farmers and had an average production of 9.5 metric tons per hectare.