Tarlac onion farmers gain new cold storage facility to cut harvest losses

SAN MANUEL, Tarlac — Tarlac has opened a new cold storage facility designed to protect onion harvests and improve farmer profitability in one of the country's leading onion-producing provinces.

The 10,000-bag capacity facility, located in San Manuel, was inaugurated through a collaborative effort involving the Metrobank Foundation, the Department of Agriculture, and the municipal government. The infrastructure addresses a critical challenge facing local onion growers: significant postharvest losses that cut into their earnings.

Tarlac ranks among the nation's top onion producers, making the province a key supplier for domestic markets. The cold storage facility is intended to enable farmers to better preserve their harvest quality and extend their selling window, potentially commanding better prices in the market.

Postharvest losses remain a persistent issue for Philippine farmers across multiple crops. Cold storage infrastructure helps mitigate spoilage and deterioration, allowing producers to time their sales strategically rather than rushing produce to market immediately after harvest. Industry officials have noted that such facilities can significantly improve farmer income and market competitiveness.

The project reflects growing efforts to modernize agricultural infrastructure in key farming regions across the Philippines, with emphasis on reducing waste and supporting smallholder farmer livelihoods.