Berhampur: Kandhamal administration has decided to introduce onion cultivation by involving tribal farmers on an experimental basis in a bid to cut down on imports from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and some other states.
Onion cultivation will be carried out on 10 acres of land on a pilot basis at Titrapanga village under Khajuripada block under Mukhya Mantri Janajati Jeevika Mission (MMJJM) by Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Phulbani.
A private company from Hyderabad has agreed to provide technical support to the farmers, while ITDa would provide the high-yield variety seeds and other inputs to farmers.
An orientation programme for the farmers was held on Wednesday at Titrapanga, where an expert from Hyderabad explained the cultivation process. "Over 100 farmers of the village expressed their interest to cultivate onions," said P Murali Mohan, project manager of ITDA, Phulbani.
"Climate and land in the district is suitable for onion cultivation. Rainwater will also not submerge the crop as water will get drained out," he added. "Initially, farmers were reluctant to take up onion cultivation, but after some persuasion, they agreed," said Mohan.
He said they would introduce a new seed variety (NHRDF Red 4) that can be cultivated twice a year — during monsoon and rabi — and farmers would profit from the cultivation. "We will cultivate in more areas after the success of the pilot project," he said.
Cultivation of onions in the district was previously done in very small areas and was negligible in the kharif season. Price of onions has soared since Oct as the state depends mainly on imports. Now, only a few farmers cultivate onions during winter and harvest during summer, sources said.