DHARWAD: Former vice-chancellor K E Lawande has advised scientists and farmers involved in onion production to rise to the occasion and produce export-worthy onions to make it economically sustainable.
Speaking at the 13th Annual Group Meeting of Scientists of All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences (Dharwad) on Saturday, he said onion and garlic are sensitive crops and the directorate of onion and garlic has released many new varieties and technology in the past 12 years. “These varieties are region-specific and there is a need to give more emphasis on drip irrigation,” he said, and highlighted the need for mechanisation in onion cultivation to reduce the cost of cultivation.
Scientist R P Gupta said onion and garlic play an important role in increasing the income of farmers. “Union government has embarked on increasing the production of onion to the extent of 31.32 million tonnes during 2022 from 1.9 million hectare. The DOGR (Pune) and other centres must make efforts in achieving the target involving Krishi Vignan Kendras (KVKs) through the introduction of new varieties and production technologies to reach farmers of unreached areas,” he said.
Presiding over the meet, UAS acting vice-chancellor Basavarajappa highlighted the importance of onion and garlic in everyday food and asked farmers to grow onions in late kharif and rabi season to reduce market glut. Further, he opined that onion stored between May and November can be exported and more research is needed to overcome certain diseases. tnn
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