Over the years onion farming has revolutionized agriculture to a better commercial crop with high returns. Unlike other crops, bulb onion farming is driven by what consumers want.
A farmer having an onion with all the qualities the consumer wants can manage to bargain for higher prices. in the past, consumers have been keen on the shape, colour and pungent. A medium-large size variety with a globe shape and good colour was preferred by many.
Low market uptake has pushed buyers to turn to a variety that has the three traits and also long shelf life without shedding the skin. The more bulb onion sheds skin the more it loses weight giving buyers losses.
Red coach F1 used to be the most preferred variety by farmers for its faster growth and good yields. However, buyers no longer want it due to the faster shedding of skin.
Best onion variety
Neptune F1
Sold by Amiran Kenya, Neptune is a high yielder of above 15 tones in 90-120 days after transplanting. It is a hybrid onion that has uniform medium bulbs loved by most buyers and a very good deep red internal colour. Neptune is adaptable to most dry and wet weather.
The Neptune bulb’s ability to stay fresh longer without shedding its skin has made it the most preferred onion variety.
Read Also:
The most economic stage of controlling bulb onion thrips
Onions farming in Kenya-how to cure, harvest, and preserve bulb onions
How to control the most stressful disease in onion farming?
This new buyer preference is expected to spread to other products such as tomatoes, peas and capsicums.
Before deciding on the crop to plant, ask your buyer which product is moving to avoid a scenario where you have a good product but you can’t get a buyer.
The right product moves faster in the market and attracts good prices always. What is your preferred onion variety and why?
