Farmers urged to cultivate the profitable crop

Since onion is among the profitable crops for farmers in the region, the growing area in the district has been increasing considerably every year.

While farmers in Challakere, Molkalmuru, Chitradurga and Hiriyur used to cultivate onion, those in Hosadurga taluk are now showing keenness in cultivating the crop owing to easy availability of good quality seeds.

Keeping the increasing demand in view, the officers of the Krishi Vignyan Kendra have introduced a new ‘arka kalyan variety onion seed’ developed by the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research to ensure that farmers get more yield and the cost of cultivation is reduced leading to quick profit.

In order to provide ample seeds, the authorities had chosen 50 acres of land belonging to 40 farmers in Hosadurga taluk in May 2016 and after initial hiccups, the farmers started production of onion seeds. Within six months, they got the best results by growing a minimum of 3 to 4 quintals of onion seeds in an acre of land. Krishi Vigyan Kendra scientist Sarvagnay Salimath said that amidst severe drought, farmers in the district decided to support the authorities in conducting the systematic experiment and succeeded. Farmers used to depend on dealers from other States to get onion seeds, but their problem would be sorted now as they would get them at low cost in the district itself.

At present, the good quality onion seeds cost around ₹2,000 per packet and if farmers get yield by cultivating them, they can earn profit, he said.

Farmers Revanna, Ravindra and Rajappa, who have grown onion seeds, said that the move would play a crucial role in ensuring good profit to farmers who are in pathetic condition owing to drought. Easy availability of seeds would make farmers take up more cultivation of the onion crop, they said.