Rose onions are available for sale at Ehsan Mart, Ehsan Rahmah Sales outlets, Ehsan Segi Fresh stores and the Selangor wholesale market.
SELANGOR has plans to transform the state into a hub for rose onions and its seeds, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency.
State infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said more than 80.9ha had been allocated under the People’s Income Initiative (IPR) for onion cultivation in Selangor.
Izham added that the state was partnering with Universiti Putra Malaysia to improve breeding, seeding, and crop production techniques.
Izham (second from left) tries his hand at harvesting rose onions during his visit to Selangor Fruit Valley in Bestari Jaya. Also present are Mohamad Khairil (second right) and Nor Sam (left). — Photos: Bernama
“We aim to address potential diseases from the outset,” he said during a visit to Selangor Fruit Valley in Bestari Jaya to witness the inaugural harvest of rose onions in the state.
The Ehsan Rose Onion Crop project by Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) yielded 28 tonnes of small red onions in its first harvest phase, covering 3.2ha.
PKPS Group chief executive officer Dr Mohamad Khairil Mohamad Razi said the project spanned 10ha, divided into three phases – 3.2ha for the first, 3.6ha for the second, and 3.2ha for the third phase.
“The entire 10ha will be operational by Jan 1 next year, with maximum harvest capacity anticipated by March 2025 – yielding an estimated four tonnes per acre,” he said at the harvesting ceremony at Selangor Fruit Valley in Kuala Selangor, as reported by Bernama.
OPTIONALRows and rows of red onions are cultivated in the first phase of the project, covering 3.2ha. In total, 10ha has been set aside for the crop.
Planting costs per acre amount to RM16,800, including labour and utilities.
Agriculture Department director-general Datuk Nor Sam Alwi was also present.
The harvested onions will be available at PKPS-managed locations, such as Ehsan Mart, Ehsan Rahmah Sales outlets, Ehsan Segi Fresh stores, and the Selangor wholesale market.
Rose onions are notable for their pungent aroma and are commonly used in Indian and Malay dishes.
A worker holding clusters of freshly harvested Ehsan rose onions grown on 3.2ha of land under the project’s first phase.
Better yields using tech
Mohamad Khairil said the company relied on technology to enhance yields.
“We employ ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) technology to monitor and optimise fertiliser use, manage nutrients, and ensure cost and resource efficiency in real-time,” he said.
Data is collected and analysed through the Smart Ehsan Onion app.
“According to recent data, the average price of imported rose onions from India is about RM7.82 per kg, with price variations due to location, supplier, import costs, product quality and market demand,” he said.
Rose onions harvested as part of the first phase of the project. Malaysians reportedly consume 1.2kg of onions per person per year.
With support from the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry and the state government, he is optimistic that the project will meet local demand, stabilise rose onion prices, and bolster both Selangor and national food security.
Mohamad Khairil said a study was underway at the Selangor Fruit Valley’s Agriculture Centre of Excellence to enhance high-quality onion production.
“We use the Bangalore Rose Onion, known for its disease resistance and adaptability to various climates,” he said.
The study, now in its fourth month, aims to provide insights for commercial-scale production, with the current rose onion type requiring about 135 days to harvest.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup previously highlighted six states, namely Perak, Selangor, Perlis, Penang, Pahang, and Kelantan, to achieve 30% self-sufficiency in production of local onion by 2030.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said during a February Parliament session that Malaysians consumed 1.2kg of onions per person annually.
In 2022, Malaysia imported 687,000 metric tonnes of onions worth RM1.58bil, including 38,000 metric tonnes of shallots valued at RM81.5mil for domestic consumption.
Mohamad said the high cost of import was because Malaysia relied 100% on imported onions and garlic from India, China, Thailand, Pakistan and the Netherlands.
He also outlined the ministry’s strategy to reduce reliance on imported red onions, including doing research on producing suitable seedlings, particularly to grow shallots locally.
