Jaffna red onions in demand
Ishara Mudugamuwa
There is an increase in the demand for Jaffna red onions. The number
of Jaffna farmers involved in red onion cultivation has increased,
Agriculture Extension Deputy Director, Jaffna, S. Sivakumar said.
Around 1,250 hectares have been cultivated with red onions in the
Jaffna district. This is increasing gradually. Over 6000 farmers are
cultivating red onion in Jaffna, he said.
Sivakumar said with the opening of the A-9 road, Jaffna's red onion
harvest is reaching the South. There is a big demand for Jaffna red
onions in the South," he said.
Farmers cultivate red onion during two seasons. Government provides
assistance to red onion cultivators by providing land and irrigation
facilities, the Deputy Director said. He said the local annual demand
for red onion is 75,000 tons. The Agriculture Ministry will also produce
red onion seeds in Jaffna and Vavuniya and encourage farmers to
cultivate them. |