Agriculture Ministry to Continue Scaling up Onion Production in St. Thomas
By: , June 25, 2023
Photo: Contributed
State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Hon. Franklin Witter, delivers the keynote address during the St. Thomas agricultural show on Friday (June 23). The event was staged by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) St. Thomas office at the Rudolf Elder Park in Morant Bay.The Full Story
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Mining says it will continue scaling up onion production in St. Thomas, even as it notes that farmers there have been mastering the growing of the crop.
Speaking on Friday (June 23) during the parish’s annual agricultural show at the Rudolf Elder Park in Morant Bay, State Minister, Hon. Franklin Witter, said that for the 2022/23 fall season, a total of 4,750 tonnes of onions were harvested from 200 hectares planted by some 242 farmers.
Additionally, there has, to date, been a 15-20 per cent increase in productivity this year, compared to the corresponding period in 2022.
According to Mr. Witter, onion farmers in St. Thomas have “shattered” the traditional method of planting four pounds per acre and have been cultivating six to eight pounds.
This, he pointed out, has resulted in some farmers harvesting up to 40,000 to 45,000 pounds per acre.
“As the responsible Ministry, we are certainly pleased with what we have witnessed,” Mr. Witter said, adding that, “it is clear to see that St. Thomas farmers have now mastered the growing of onions successfully.”
He informed that the Ministry will be working with key stakeholders to develop a structured pre- and post-harvest management system to address the curing, drying and storage of onion bulbs.
This will include incorporating low-cost drying and storage facilities at strategic locations to enhance shelf-life, sustain market potential and protect the farmers’ livelihood, the State Minister added.
“As we advance, the Ministry will also seek to diversify the varieties of onions being planted to become more high-yielding and disease tolerant. In addition, Land Tillage Clearance support will continue to be provided under the Production Incentive Programme,” he indicated.
The 22nd staging of the parish show was organised by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Thomas office under the theme: ‘Advancing Agriculture through Resilient Farmers: Grow Smart Eat Smart’.