No big onion imports from 2016

by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.

The Ministry of Agriculture will stop importing big onions by year 2016 to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in big onions.

Accordingly, farmers in Hambantota, Moneragala, Ampara, Mulaitivu and the Vavuniya districts would be encouraged to grow big onions on a large scale.

The domestic annual consumption of big onions is around 220,000 metric tonnes but only 120,000 metric tonnes could be supplied locally.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said steps will be taken from this year to cultivate more big onions to meet the local demand and Rs. 120 million will be provided as subsidies for onion farmers as an incentive to grow big onions.