TAPAH: Perak became the first state in Malaysia to successfully harvest around 2.3 tonnes of BW1 type shallots in a 0.6ha site under the Onion Cultivation Development Project in Kampung Ladang Bikam near here.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said the project, in cooperation with the state Agriculture Department, was carried out in three phases in a one-hectare farm, with the target of producing around four tonnes per hectare.
“This first harvest involves phase 1 from a 0.6ha farm producing about 2.3 tonnes. After that, harvesting will continue in phases 2 and 3.
“I am confident that this pilot project can be a trigger for the production of shallots in the country while meeting the needs of Malaysians and reducing dependence on imported onions,” he told Bernama when met at the Large-Scale Shallot Planting Pilot Project harvesting ceremony here yesterday.
Also present were ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Plant Industry Development Division director Christopher John Biai, and state agriculture director Norsiyenti Othman.
In the meantime, Kurup said all the produce will be marketed by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to any location that has a high demand.
Perak is one of the six states that will be the main production hub for local BW1 shallots in Malaysia for domestic consumption.
He added that he is optimistic that the matter could be realised since the state government also supported the expansion of the crop cultivation in Perak.
“The ministry has identified six states – Perak, Selangor, Perlis, Penang, Pahang, and Kelantan. It is our plan and target to achieve a self-sufficiency rate of 30% for local onions by 2030.”
