Ujjain Onion

It is perhaps not known to many that Madhya Pradesh has the highest area under organic farming in the country with an extensive system that includes warehouses, cold storages, markets and micro food processing plants in place to boost the farmers’ income, increase export potential and develop value – added products. Each district has its own signature organic produce that is making great strides in the domestic and international markets.

Bharat is the second largest producer of onion in the world and Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan are the top five states with the highest production in the country. The Malwa plateau in particular in Madhya Pradesh is famous for its onion that thrives in the medium black well – drained soil rich in potash.

In fact, several villages in Ujjain district where the primary occupation is farming have seen bumper harvest of onion, garlic, Malwi gehu, ginger, coriander, turmeric, chilli, fenugreek and potato in recent years because of the progressive pro – farmer schemes, incentives and subsidies of the state and central government.

Small and marginal farmers cultivate native as well as high – yielding varieties like AFDR, AFLR (Agri Found Light Red), Bhima Light Red, Bhima Dark Red, Bhima Shakti, Bhima Super, Early Grano, Pusa White Round, Arka Kirtiman and N-53.

It is estimated that over 12,000 farmers cultivate red, yellow and white varieties of onion in over 15,700 hectares of land in this district with an average annual production of over 3.5 lakh tonnes.

Onion paste, dehydrated onion, onion powder, masala, pickled onions, onion papad, onion flakes, onion granules, kibbled onion, minced onion, chopped onion, onion sauce, onion rings and onion vinegar are some of the popular products available across the state prepared from Ujjain onion.

Written by Lakshmi Subramanian