Indonesia`s red onion production predicted to reach 1.14 million tons

The agriculture ministry said the countrys production of red onion is predicted to reach 120,000 tons a month or 1.14 million tons this year. The production fell from 122,000 tons a month in 2014, but still is higher than domestic requirement.

Horticulture Director General Hasanuddin Ibrahim said the production will exceed domestic consumption of around 90,000 tons a month.

“In the period of January to September this year, the production is predicted to rise 20 to 30 percent, but October to December, the production is expected to fall by the same rate of 20 to 30 percent,” Hasanuddin said.

The countrys red onion production is expected to peak in June at 122,800 tons. The second highest was 116,300 tons in January and the third highest was 110,900 tons in August, he said.

The lowest production was expected in March at 65,270 tons , November at 81,010 tons and in October at 83,850 tons.

“The production is not level from month to month depending on the season. The production falls in rainy season but surges in dry season,” he said.

In rainy attacks by season plant disease on red onion are more wide spread, he said. He said red onion plantations totaled 119,966 hectares in 2014. In 2015, red onion would be grown in 27 of the countrys 34 provinces.