A SURVEY ON ONION PRODUCTION IN THE BAWKU EAST DISTRICT OF GHANA

Abstract

Dry season vegetable cultivation in the northern part of Ghana is important in various respects. It provides employment and income during a period, which would otherwise be spent in idleness among most rural farmers. Dry season vegetable production therefore has the potential of checking the north-south migration as well as contributing to improved nutrition. Dry season vegetable production has to be improved by solving some of the most important problems that hinder productivity to make it more attractive for farmers to engage in it. It is in this respect that a baseline survey was carried out in seven onion producing communities in the Upper East Region to identify some of the major problems hindering productivity From the survey, it became apparent that sufficient quality onion seed was a problem. Farmers produce their own seed and even supplement this by buying seed from the market. There are no certified seed growers. It was also evident that there was no standard method of bulb pre-treatment before planting and farmers were uncertain of the optimal "seed-bulb" size. However, the Bawku red cultivars were the most preferred but thrips were a major pest problem. It appears that marketing and storage of bulbs were less problematic. Seed storage, on the other hand, was a problem with about 39% of farmers able to store for only up to six months. It is recommended that the major problems identified should be scientifically studied and solutions worked out and recommendations given to the farmers to boost onion production.