Homeland onion, both Food and Medicine
Dehghan (Bazgar) Weekly / Mohammad Tamim Siddiqi
Based on the statistics provided by the Statistics Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) in 1399 of onion production and cultivation area in the country, the onion cultivation area is 16,958 hectares, of which 310,979 metric tons of onions were produced. Afghan onions have domestic and foreign markets.
We will introduce you the provinces which are pioneers in onion production.
Nangarhar
The Directorate of Agriculture of Nangarhar province has announced an increase in onion production in this province, saying onion production has increased by 5% this year compared to last year.
Officials of the mentioned directorate of agriculture said that in 1398, the area under onion cultivation is 1,553 hectares. From this amount of land, 32,613 tons of onions were produced. But in 1399, the amount of onion production has reached 39,974 metric tons.
Onions are grown in all districts of Nangarhar and have yielded good results. Nangarhar onions are mostly consumed domestically. (MAIL) has provided a lot of assistance to landowners in preserving onions for a year by establishing an onion cold storages, and has not allowed their crops to rot.
A number of farmers welcomed the construction of onion cold storages in the province and said that from now on they will no longer sell their products at low prices and they aren’t worried about the spoilage of their crops and have asked MAIL to build them more onion cold storages in the province.
Khan Jan is a landowner in Rudat district of Nangarhar province. He said that he owned eight acres of land and grows onions along with other crops. Each garlic (seven kilos) sells onions in domestic market for 130 AFN.
Logar
Onion cultivation in Logar has increased by five percent.
The Logar Directorate of Agriculture has announced an increase in area under onion cultivation in the province and said that the area under onion cultivation in the province has increased by 40 hectares this year compared to last year.
Abdullah Tasl, director of agriculture in Logar province, said that onion production in the province has reduced compared to last year. He added that lack of market is the main factor for the decline in onion yields.
According to him in 1399, the area under onion cultivation in this province is 1,160 hectares, of which 36,540 onions were produced.
Onions are grown and produced in all districts of Logar province. 70% of the province’s onion production is exported to Pakistan and the remaining 30% is sold in domestic markets.
Ahmad is a landowner in Mohammad Agha district of Logar province. He thanked God the onion crop is good and has a market. Asked the Ministry of Agriculture to assist them in market and onion cold storages.
Shapoor is another farmer in Pol-e-Alam district of Logar province. He said, “He owns five acres of land and cultivates onions annually and gets good yields. Each garlic (seven kilos) onion is sold in domestic markets for 110 AFN.
Farah
Farah onion yields increased by five percent.
Farah Agriculture Directorate announced an increase in onion production in the province and said that there has been a five percent increase in onion production compared to last year in the province.
Qudratullah Kakar, director of agriculture affairs in Farah province, said that this year the onion cultivation area is 2,411 hectares, of which 66,067 tons of onions have been produced.
Most onions in Farah province are grown and produced in Pashturud, Bala Block, Bakwa, Khak-e-Sefid and central Farah districts.
According to him onions are mostly sold in local markets and neighboring provinces. Peasant onions are dissolved.
A number of landowners in Farah province complain about the lack of onion markets and cold storages in the province, saying that when all the produce is harvested, it rots and spoils; Because there are no cold storages for fruit and onions, the farmer have to sell onions at a low price, and so watermelon and melon are sold at a low price at the time of harvest. On the other hand, the officials in agriculture of Farah province stated that the construction of onion cold storages will solve some of the problems of the landowners and it is hoped that more onion storages will be built in 1400 so that we can get rid of these problems.
Mohammad Aref is a landowner in Pashturud district of Farah province. He said that in Farah, due to the hot weather, some products have given good results. Yields are high, but they complain about the lack of markets and refrigerators. He is asking the Ministry of Agriculture to assist them in marketing their products and building an onion storage cold storage.
Mohammad Omar is a farmer in Khak-e-Safid district. He said he owns seven acres of land and grows onions and other crops. Their yields are high every year, but there is no market and they have suffered a lot of losses in this area.
About onions
Onion is one of the oldest vegetables in the world. Its main origin is Afghanistan. Onion belongs to the family Alliaceae and is a biennial plant with weak plant growth, intermediate cylindrical leaves that form bulbs in the first year according to the required day length and in the second year by cultivating bulbs and after the emergence of flowering stems and umbrellas produces seeds. The most important environmental factors affecting the formation of bulbs are temperature and day length, and based on this, onion cultivars are divided into three groups, including long day cultivars, medium day cultivars.
This is important in determining the appropriate planting time. Over time, onions have been considered not only in cooking but also in their healing properties.
Onions contain compounds of sulfur, sugar, calcium, sodium and potassium salts, iodine, silica, iron, phosphorus and A. B. C vitamins.
Raw onions increase the activity of the stomach and thus increase the secretion of hydrochloric acid. Therefore, people who have stomach upset may feel burning and pain in their stomach. Such people should consume cooked onions, which regulate the secretions of the digestive system, increase appetite, and treat pain and bloating. Onions are also referred to as natural antibiotics.