The Trichy horticulture department has started distributing onion seeds instead of onion bulbs to meet the growing demand for small onions. The seeds are produced in farms maintained by the department in Trichy. Hundreds of onion farmers have benefited from the initiative as they can minimize input cost and reap higher yields.
Onion seeds are being readied as a special scheme under the National Horticulture Development Programme following the rise in onion price during off-season. The department had set in motion an action plan to produce onion seeds on 500 acres in Trichy last year. Accordingly, onion seeds were being produced at the Thorakkudi state horticulture farm in Manikandam block.
According to an article, the government is providing 2.5 kg of onion seeds an hectare to farmers under the hybrid vegetable area expansion scheme of National Horticulture Mission. The onion seeds are aimed at covering 750 acres in the district during this special season, deputy director of horticulture C Vimala stated.
