Large-scale onion cultivation is set to advance following the successful harvest of about 40,000 kilogrammes from a pilot project, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said on Monday.
Mustapha said the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to expand production across multiple regions after the initial success.
“The ministry will now be going into large-scale production. For the next crop, we are looking to cultivate about 200 acres. The onions we have here were produced from a pilot project of just four acres. Because of the project’s massive success, we are seeing interest around the country. President Ali was in Region Nine for part of the beginning of the harvesting a few weeks ago. Since then, other farmers from Regions Two, Five, and Six are coming forward expressing interest in getting involved and have indicated that they will allocate portions of their farmland for the cultivation of onions,” the minister explained.
About 2,000 bags of onions cultivated in Region Nine were transported to Georgetown last Thursday, with the first batch purchased by local distributor Abdul Wahab of A. Wahab Imports, supported by the ministry in securing a market.
The initiative forms part of a broader government strategy to strengthen food security in the wider Caribbean through investment, innovation and support for farmers.
