ISSUE TO GROW ONIONS IN MALAYSIA

SHALLOT (Allium cepa) was an important ingredient in many Malaysian cuisine. Malaysia is a net importer of shallots and onions since years before due to there was no commercial farm grow this commodity. However, according to local newspaper reported that there is strategy to reduce onion imports: 1,000 metric tons of locally grown shallots expected.  Malaysia is expected to produce 1,000 metric tonnes of shallots under the pre-commercial phase of its onion cultivation development programme. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security stated that the strategy in reducing the nation's dependence on imported red onions would be implemented in two phases that namely the pre-commercial phase and the commercial phase. The pre-commercial phase aims to explore the potential of cultivating shallots in Malaysia. The report mention that it involves an implementation period of two years known as from 2024 (this year) to 2025 (next year).  A total of 70 metric tonnes of shallots seeds and 230kg of seed grains will be supplied by the MARDI in this phase. For the planting programme, an area of 100ha of onion cultivation will be developed, which is 50ha this year and another 50ha next year, with an expected production yield of five metric tons per hectare. This onion planting would be carried out twice a year, with expected onion production for this phase being 1,000 metric tons. The target how the ministry's strategy to achieve the goal of reducing onion imports by 30 per cent. Under the commercial phase, Mohamad said the implementation period is five years, starting from 2026 to 2030. During this period, an area of 1,347ha of onion cultivation will be developed with an expected production yield of 14,470 metric tons in which this would be able to meet 30 per cent of the local demand by 2030. The cultivation of shallots has begun in the Farmers' Organisation Authority areas in Perlis and Selangor covering 1.2ha and in Ladang Bikam in Perak that covering for one hectare and the first harvest is expected in April 2024. Malaysia currently depended on imported onions from India, the Netherlands, China, Pakistan and Thailand. The types of fresh onions imported include large onions, small shallots and garlic. In 2022 reported that Malaysia imported 687,000 metric tons of onions valued at RM1.58 billion. Of that amount about 38,000 metric tons of shallots were imported and valued at RM81.5 million to meet domestic consumption needs. The per capita consumption of small shallots for the year 2022 was 1.2 kg/person/year. This morning, I write an article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" about the issue of how to grow onions in Malaysia and the strategy needed.

According to portal bernama.com titled 'MARDI to monitor BAW-1 shallot variety growth and production' related to this topic. The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has been instructed to closely monitor the growth and production of the new shallot variety BAW-1, which is being cultivated in Perak, in a bid to reduce reliance on imports. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said the data obtained later could assist the ministry in formulating a plan for large-scale cultivation of this local red onion. The BAW-1 variety and along with BAW-2 and BAW-3 are the three new shallot varieties introduced by MARDI last year in 2023. Reported that on Jan 24 this year, the Agriculture Development started cultivating the BAW-1 variety at a one-hectare site in Kuala Bikam, Batang Padang, Perak. The onion supply crisis in 2020 had caused by a major flood in India, resulted in over 30 per cent increase in onion prices in the market, rising from RM6 to RM8 per kilograms. The ministry would focus on strengthening the onion industry this year in 2024. MARDI has been instructed to closely monitor the growth and production of the new shallot variety BAW-1 in which is being cultivated in Perak in a bid to reduce reliance on imports. As planned that  the ministry in formulating a plan for large-scale cultivation of this local red onion. Today the BAW-1 variety, along with BAW-2 and BAW-3 are variety developed by MARDI. Reported the onion supply crisis in 2020, caused by a major flood in India in which it resulted in an over 30% increase in onion prices in the market, rising from RM6 to RM8 per kg. The onion industry this year by having Mardi distribute shallot seeds to selected farmers for extensive cultivation of local shallots this year. Bernama recently reported Mardi senior research officer had saying the institute aims to achieve a total shallot production of 30 tons per season on a 5ha cultivation area this year in 2024. The commercialisation activities will be expanded by an additional 10ha each subsequent year, with continuous monitoring and advisory services by Mardi experts until entrepreneurs can fully implement it started shallot cultivation area in Kuala Bikam. To achieve this goal few selected farmers are provided with technical guidance through courses and training, along with free shallot seeds for the first season of production. The planting activity will monitor by few officers for the correct planting and watering methods before assessing the crop’s performance and how it can overcome insect attacks and diseases. Later they will conduct a final monitoring of the cultivation and observe the harvesting process to ensure that the shallots are of high quality and are comparable to those in the market. As reported that a total of 1.5 tonnes of BAW-1 shallots were successfully handed over to a farmer named Tan Cheng Choy, who cultivates the crop on a one-hectare area. Tan described the assistance with shallot seeds as highly beneficial to smallholders like himself, besides increasing their monthly income. He hopes this shallot cultivation will yield substantial results because shallots are in high demand in the market. A large-scale onion cultivation has been implemented in Perak’s Batang Padang district and at Serdang, Selangor by the Agriculture Department. Source:NST. Thanks....

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(April 2024)