The NOGROCOMA is the National Onion Growers Cooperative Marketing Association which was started in December, 1954, with the prime purpose of making the Philippines self-sufficient in onions.  Before the NOGROCOMA’s establishment, the Philippines used to import onions from India, Japan and Australia.  The NOGROCOMA worked for the banning of the importation of onions and garlic in order to pave the way for the healthy development of the onion industry.  This ban was incorporated in R.A. No. 1296 which actually encouraged the producers to produce more and banned the importation of onions, garlic and potatoes except for seedling purposes.  Thus in a span of two (2) years, the Philippines graduated from an onion-importing to self sufficiency and onion growers would not have progressed economically as they have without the ban.  When local prices are way above consumers reach, then the government usually allows importation in order to stabilize the price.  Thus with the said law, the industry grew with the farmer.  Now, instead of importing, the Philippines is now exporting onions to Japan and Singapore.  We can safely say that the onion industry is helping the country by generating needed dollars to pay for our oil requirements.

The NOGROCOMA has always been helping the farmers by importing quality seeds at reasonable prices, looking for markets in order to stabilize prices locally and avoid the market gluts that usually come from seasonal harvest.  It conducts yearly contest for onion farmers to encourage farmers to produce good quality onions for export.  Since we are producing the more onions that what is normally required by the local market, our way of improving our present status is to look for the foreign markets where our main competitors are Taiwan, New Zealand and the United States.  The NOGROCOMA also brings its farmers to Taiwan and Japan in order to learn techniques of production which will enable us to compete in the world market. It gives patronage refund in the form of cash for every bag of onions delivered for export.  In short, in its humble way, it is trying to help the farmer get a better price for his produce, for its is believed that a happy onion farmer in a community will contribute to a happier country for all of us where all the basic need of men are amply provided.

The NOGROCOMA has always cooperated with the various agencies like the Food Terminal, Inc., the Philippine Export Council and now the Philippine Export Advisory Council, having been a permanent member of the Fruits and Vegetables Committee.  It has cooperated with the National Seed Industry Council, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) and Agribusiness Service Assistance Program (ASAP), and other offices.

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