Kelantan Cultivating Onions To Reduce Reliance On Imports By 2030

KOTA BHARU, July 15 (Bernama) -- A large-scale onion cultivation project spanning 30.85 hectares across seven districts in Kelantan is expected to reduce Malaysia’s reliance on imported onions by 2030.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said Malaysia currently imports all of its onion supply from countries such as India and China.

“For example, in 2022, we imported 685,400 metric tonnes of big and small red onions worth RM1.58 billion. This clearly reflects our heavy dependence on foreign sources,” he said in a statement via a video posted on his Facebook page today.

He said the state government, through the Agriculture, Agri-Food Industry and Commodities Committee, is taking steps to strengthen the agriculture sector.

This includes onion farming, with several projects approved, ongoing, or in the pipeline in Bachok, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Jeli, Kuala Krai, Machang and Tanah Merah.

In addition, the Kelantan Department of Agriculture has allocated RM100,000 to the Kelantan State Agriculture Development Corporation for onion cultivation at Agro Valley Rong Chenok in Pasir Mas.

Mohd Nassuruddin added that a one-hectare pilot onion farming project was launched in Kuala Krai last year, in collaboration with local entrepreneurs and the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar).

The project is expected to generate RM1.4 million in returns by 2025.

Based on this progress, he said the aim is to gradually cut down on onion imports, and by 2030, produce up to 30 percent of the country’s supply locally.

At the same time, he stressed the need to intensify efforts to boost production and ensure a stable supply of onions for the domestic market.

-- BERNAMA