Allium cepa L., recognized as an emerging export winner in the country. Valued for both their exotic taste as well as their nutritional value. Ilocos Norte is one of the top producers of multiplier onion/shallot in the country and it is considered as one of the major cash crop in the province.

Production Situation

• The major variety that is being produced in the province is the multiplier onion/shallot.
• Planting material is classified into seeds and bulb.
• This crop is best grown from September to December and harvested during the months of November to February.
• Peak of harvesting is from January to February
• Production situation increased by 25% from 5,683.5mt in 2002, up by 22,116.08 mt in 2003.
• Multiplier onion has a life span ranging from 2-3 months but if it's stored at 0-1 degree centigrade, onions can last for at least 6-8 months

Utilization

• Indispensable ingredients
• Consumed fresh in salads, pickled, cooked or fried
• Known to reduce blood sugar levels and platelet aggregation
• Per capita consumption is 0.4 kg per year

Three Varieties of ONION

• Red Onion/ Red Creole
• White Onion/ Yellow Granex
• Multiplier Onion/ Shallot

Major ONION Producing Municipalities

Marketing Channel & Practices

• Middlemen in the locality are the major players in the distribution of locally produced onion from farm to the final users and delivered to assemblers or viajeros
• Viajeros or production area-based traders purchased onions from the middlemen or onions brought to their buying stations and transport to other bigger buying station.
• The final destination of onion produced in Ilocos Norte is Nueva Ecija.

Cost and Return Analysis

• The total estimated cost of production is P40,766 per hectare
• From a yield of 9,000 kg/ha sold at an average price of P10 /kg
• The gross income is P90,000/ha
• Net income is P49,234/hectare