Onion Value Chain

Funder: Government of Odisha, India

Duration: 30 January 2023 – 29 January 2025

Project location: Odisha State, India

Project partners: Directorate of Horticulture, Odisha, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of India

Project manager: Ramakrishnan Nair

Background

Agriculture forms the backbone of Odisha’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of around 65% of its population and contributing approximately 15.5% to the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Small and marginal farmers, who make up 90% of the farming community, manage a vast cultivated area of 52.34 lakh hectares, representing 41% of the state’s total geographic area. The state experiences diverse agro-climatic conditions across its 10 zones, facilitating year-round cultivation of various vegetables over approximately 7 lakh hectares, with an average productivity lower than the national average. Onion cultivation, mainly during the dry season, is prominent in districts like Bolangir, Kalahandi, Boudh, Deogarh, Nuapada etc. with Bolangir district leading in production.

However, inadequate storage facilities contribute to post-harvest losses and lower market prices. Efforts to improve cultivation practices, introduce better onion varieties, and enhance storage techniques are underway, supported by earlier attempts by the World Vegetable Center. Furthermore, the support to farmers to ensure successful onion cultivation during the rainy season, the off-season marked by high market demand adopting climate resilient production practices, aiming to enhance their income. These initiatives aim to boost yields, stabilize market supplies, and reduce postharvest losses for sustainable onion cultivation in Odisha.

Objectives

The project aims to achieve several objectives through proposed activities. Firstly, it seeks to showcase enhanced onion production methods in designated onion villages/clusters to boost productivity. Secondly, it aims to exhibit improved post-harvest handling techniques, including harvesting, curing, sorting, grading, and storage technologies, to mitigate postharvest losses. Lastly, the project aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of onion farmers and extension personnel from Odisha government agencies in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Handling Practices (GHPs).

Target Area

6 districts in central and western Odisha where onion cultivation is most prevalent and representing 4 of the 10 agro-climatic zones in Odisha State.

Expected Results

The anticipated outcomes of the project encompass various improvements in Odisha’s onion farming sector. These include enhanced onion production through the adoption of advanced technologies, mitigated post-harvest losses via innovative crop management techniques, and the facilitation of onion processing into value-added products. Furthermore, the initiative aims to bolster the capacity of farmer groups and project partners to implement and disseminate these advancements effectively throughout the onion value chain. Ultimately, these efforts are projected to boost farmer incomes through the utilization of improved varieties, minimized losses, increased storability, and expanded opportunities for value addition through post-harvest processing. Consequently, Odisha’s farmers stand to benefit from increased onion production during the rainy season, amplified yields in dry season, reduced postharvest losses, and improved storability, leading to better market prices during periods of high demand.