Onion processing our greatest challenge – Farmers, dealers

Onion farmers said they are using thatched mats to cover the commodity against heat, adding that they incur heavy losses when the commodity is produced in large quantity without readily available buyers.Leader of the onion merchants association in Sokoto, Malam Bello Yaro, lamented that government was not able to provide the onion farmers with modern […]

Onion farmers said they are using thatched mats to cover the commodity against heat, adding that they incur heavy losses when the commodity is produced in large quantity without readily available buyers.
Leader of the onion merchants association in Sokoto, Malam Bello Yaro, lamented that government was not able to provide the onion farmers with modern preservation system to store the commodity for as long as they may wish, adding: “Government can also establish a factory where the commodity can be processed.”
When this reporter visited the major onions sales point at Ramen Kura Market in the state capital, he witnessed the beehive of activities.
Onion farmers, buyers, transporters and errand boys were all seen going about their trading businesses.
Yaro said farmers used to bring onion to the market from many towns, including Dundaye, Kwalkwalawa, Gyarabshi, Wamakko, Gidan Bubu, Tangwale and Giniga in the state.
One of the buyers, Mrs. Omotosho, said she has been patronising the onions market for over 40 years, adding: “This is the onion season. I have just bought a sack at N1, 140 but when it is not its season and there is scarcity, a sack of onion can cost as much as N11, 000 or even more.”