Financial Performance of PHilMech Multi-Row Onion Seeder in Iloilo, Philippines

The financial performance of MROS was evaluated by analyzing its costs and benefits in planting bulb onions and comparing it with the traditional manual transplanting method. The study was conducted in Iloilo, a major onion-producing province in Western Visayas, Philippines that mainly practice manual transplanting of onion. Investment analysis was conducted to assess the perspective of a private investor operating the MROS as a service provider. Additionally, partial budget analysis was employed to assess the standpoint of onion farmers adopting the MROS over the traditional transplanting method. The adoption of MROS over the transplanting method provided significant advantages for the farmers including reduced labor cost during planting, decreased expenses for seedling production, and an increase in average yield. Investment analysis indicated the financial viability of MROS as a planting method of bulb onion, with an internal rate of return of 54.77% and a BCR of 1.61. The study suggested operating the MROS beyond the breakeven service area coverage of 25 hectares and breakeven service rate of PhP 1,518.77/ha to avoid financial loss and remain viable. Insights from this study can serve as valuable inputs for identifying specific onion-producing areas where the potential benefits of MROS can be effectively utilized.