Amid mounting challenges, including armyworm infestations, rising production costs, and declining soil fertility, Central Luzon State University (CLSU) is strengthening its support for onion growers by promoting eco-friendly agricultural interventions to help reduce production expenses, increase yields, and improve profitability.

Through its University Extension Center (UEC), CLSU conducted the “Training on Onion Production Technologies in Nueva Ecija” with farmer-partners from the Onion and Vegetable Producers Cooperative (OVEPCO) and Kalasag Multipurpose Cooperative (KMC) on November 3, 2026, at the RIE Function Room B.

Dr. Aldrin E. Badua, UEC Director, emphasized the growing challenges faced by local onion growers, particularly severe armyworm infestations, increasing production costs, and declining soil fertility. He reaffirmed CLSU's commitment to supporting Nueva Ecija as one of the country's leading onion-producing provinces, emphasizing the need to increase farm productivity while ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.

Further strengthening this commitment, 10 farmer-partners from the two cooperatives signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with CLSU, represented by University President Dr. Evaristo Abella and Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz. The agreement reinforces the University's institutional support for local agricultural development and its commitment to bringing research-based innovations closer to farming communities.

Assoc. Prof. Lanie Lou Mar A. Lopez opened the technical sessions with a presentation on organic-based onion production. She discussed practices that help restore soil nutrients and enhance crop resilience, along with standard protocols for applying organic-based inputs based on farm size as part of the study.

Meanwhile, Dr. Danila S. Paragas, Director of the CLSU Center for Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Fishery, presented “Go Green with DEALS: Nature-Powered Protection for Onions.” She introduced the DEALS Nanobiopesticide, an eco-friendly innovation designed to control armyworms (harabas) using plant-based phytochemicals enhanced by nanotechnology. This technology offers a potentially safer and more targeted alternative to conventional chemical pesticides while helping minimize toxic residues in the environment and food chain.

With the MOA in place, CLSU and its farmer-partners are expected to pursue further collaborative activities to promote the adoption of these eco-friendly technologies, strengthen local onion production, and improve the productivity and profitability of farming communities.