June 2015
Source: AVRDC newsletter June 5, 2015
The Malakand Division in the remote corner of Pakistan traditionally has been an onion seed producing area. Yet over the past three years, mounting impediments to seed production dimmed the prospect of successful seed harvests for members of the Shuga Seed Growers Association in Bunir district.
Seed output decreased in the district as it became increasingly difficult for farmers to obtain onion mother bulbs from certified and authentic sources. The prevalence of diseases—purple blotch in particular—severely damaged crops in the region last year. In 2014, farmers managed to produce only 400-500 kg of onion seed, compared to the usual quantity of 2500-3000 kg. Many farmers considered discontinuing seed production altogether.
AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, under the Agricultural Innovation Program (AIP) for Pakistan, eased the situation by supplying certified seed and onion mother bulbs to farmers through the Agriculture Research Institute (North), Mingora, Swat. Certified seed is grown and processed under stringent production requirements; the quality management ensures varietal purity, so that farmers will get the varieties they want.
Training helped to ensure that good practices will be followed by seed farmers. Four farmers were trained on onion seed production and crop management. Twenty-two growers attended sessions on pest management and disease control, with an emphasis on controlling thrips and purple blotch. Farmers were advised to diversify their onion monocrops with other crops such as okra and peas.
Most of the people living in in mountain-locked Malakand depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Numerous vegetable crops, including onion, are grown for subsistence and commercial purposes. Linking seed-producing farmers with seed dealers in the main markets of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could help the farmers increase their incomes. The onion crop in Malakand contributed 92% (145,068 tons) of the total provincial production and 89% (7,872 hectares) to the total area planted in 2011-12.
The activities were undertaken as part of AIP for Pakistan funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and supported by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).
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