Mardi to embark on red onion cultivation

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) has developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for red onion cultivation that can be grown twice or thrice a year.

Its director-general, Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani said the development of the SOP is the result of innovation through the institute's Research and Development (R&D) department as guidelines for agricultural entrepreneurs to ensure the production of onions is viable and profit-generating.

"This SOP was developed as a guideline for efficient production to ensure the results generated are optimal and profitable. This SOP includes field and seed preparation, planting and harvesting," he said in a statement today (November 30).

Mohamad Zabawi said that based on the SOP, one hectare of land can see the planting of 250,000 plants capable of producing up to six tonnes of onions.