The rise in insecurity on farms is presenting a major obstacle to the growth of Nigeria’s onion production, which is currently estimated at 2 million tonnes annually. This issue has also affected the country’s onion exports.

Globally, onion prices have gone up due to various reasons, including extended bans on onion exports from countries such as India and Egypt. European importers have started sourcing more onions from China because of these bans and lower production in Europe.

The President of Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Victor Iyama, pointed out that farm insecurity is impacting not just domestic onion supply but also international exports.

Though Nigeria is the seventh largest onion producer in the world, but not on the global onion export map, Iyama explained that farmers have been exporting the commodity to other countries in West Africa, but that the volume has dropped significantly as a result of banditry.

According to him, the impact of banditry on agricultural productivity and trade is a serious concern, affecting not only the livelihoods of farmers but also the country’s ability to participate effectively in international trade.

The National President of the National Onion Producers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, recently shed light on Nigeria’s onion production landscape, emphasising its vast potential compared to neighbouring countries like Ghana.

He said Nigeria produces two million tonnes of onion while Ghana produces less than 10,000 tonnes.

Isah attributed Nigeria’s lack of presence in the global onion export market to neglect of the sector by the government, contrasting it with Ghana, where onions contribute significantly to the national revenue.

“Onion was initially not recognised for exportation, thus was not enjoying any support from the government but in Ghana, it is one of the major revenue earners for their government,” he explained.

During NOPPMAN’s 4th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Isah unveiled plans for collaboration with private organisations to establish onion processing companies to capture market share locally and abroad.

He said: “With operational plants in Lagos and Sokoto, NOPPMAN is poised to invest substantially in its Sokoto facility, with an estimated value of five million US dollars.”

Highlighting the project’s significance, Isah emphasised its potential to significantly increase onion production capacity.

He outlined NOPPMAN’s ambitious goal of producing one thousand metric tonnes of onions sourced from hundreds of thousands of onion bulbs, contingent upon adequate government support, particularly in accessing credit resources.

“In addition to expanding production capacity, NOPPMAN aims to modernize its packaging for processed onions to meet evolving market demands,” he stated.

Isah stressed the importance of increasing onion production and storage facilities to minimize post-harvest losses, suggesting government assistance in providing portable or small modern processing machines to empower youths and women in the onion business.

In recent months Pakistan, according to a report, has seen a notable rise in onion exports, which is attributed to India’s export ban. India, a major global onion exporter, stopped its exports due to a decrease in domestic production, resulting in a gap in the international market that Pakistan took advantage of. From December to March, Pakistan exported more than 220,000 tonnes of onions, exceeding its usual annual export quantities. All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) emphasized the strategic reaction to India’s ban as a crucial element in this export surge, leading to revenue of over $200 million. Despite subsequent restrictions imposed by the Pakistani government to stabilize local prices, ongoing exports are expected to bring in an additional $50 million by the end of the fiscal year in June. (The Nation)

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