Stakeholders have emphasized the need to promote domestic onion farming to make Nepal self-reliant in onion production.
During the inauguration of a two-day commercial onion farming training program organized by the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Madhesh Province, Parwanipur, several experts expressed their views on the importance of self-sufficiency.
Dr. Hareram Yadav, Chief of the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, Bara, stated that it is unfortunate Nepal still imports a large quantity of onions annually from India, despite onions being one of the most consumed vegetables in Nepali households. He stressed that while Nepal has suitable soil and climate conditions for onion cultivation, the lack of commercial-scale farming remains a significant challenge for the agriculture-based country.
Dr. Bisheshwar Prasad Yadav, Director of the Directorate, emphasized that self-reliance in agriculture is not possible without successful agricultural research. He highlighted that the center aims to produce onion seeds within the country and mentioned that achieving self-reliance in onion production could significantly reduce the billions of rupees spent on imports each year.
He also pointed out the need for effective pest control, which has been a major issue in onion farming. Encouraging farmers to continue onion cultivation is crucial, as many have been discouraged due to pest problems. Additionally, Dr. Yadav mentioned that climate change is causing a reduction in onion bulb size, calling for serious attention to the issue.
The training program, which included 30 lead farmers from Parsa, Bara, and Rautahat districts, provided information on various aspects of onion farming. Technical presentations were delivered by Dr. Pramod Wagle (Agricultural Scientist), Dr. Suresh Kumar Sah (Technical Officer), and Dr. Anand Mishra (Scientist) from the Directorate.
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