Large-scale onion cultivation implemented through two phases, says Agriculture DG

PUTRAJAYA: The cultivation of onions on a larger scale through a strategic joint venture between the state government and potential entrepreneurs will be carried out in two phases, namely upskilling and strengthening.

Department of Agriculture director-general Datuk Nor Sam Alwi said the upskilling project for onion cultivation was launched on Jan 24 in a one-hectare area in Kampung Ladang Bikam, Sungkai, Perak.

“Under this project, the Department of Agriculture (DoA) together with the agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is conducting agronomic monitoring of the crops, including fertilisation, irrigation systems, disease and pest control and the suitability of agricultural mechanisation,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Previously, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that the ministry would focus on strengthening the onion industry this year.

To achieve the target of reducing onion imports by 30 per cent, Mohamad said his ministry is targeting the cultivation of 1,447 hectares per year.

Meanwhile, Nor Sam said that in 2022, the total import of two types of onions, namely large and small onions, was 685,400 metric tonnes (mt) with a value of RM1.58 billion.

Based on the statistical data, Malaysia imported 525,055.37 metric tonnes of onions worth RM944,990,373 from 20 countries.

The highest imports came from India with 321,776.16 mt, the Netherlands (77,772.55 mt), China (47,165.48 mt), Pakistan (42,957.62 mt), Thailand (12,186.52 mt) and other countries.

“The onion supply crisis in 2020 as a result of the major flood disaster in India has led to a three-fold increase in the selling price of onions,” she said.