Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) conducted a Zoom webinar on the onion sector, highlighting Pakistan’s position among the top ten global onion producers and its status as the third-largest agricultural export, generating approximately USD 200 million in 2024. Despite this strong base, the sector continues to face a notable productivity gap, with national yields of 13–15 tons per hectare compared to the global average of 19 tons per hectare and significantly lower than advanced benchmarks.
The webinar emphasized that onion production is largely concentrated in Sindh and Balochistan, contributing around 70 percent collectively, which necessitates targeted regional interventions and infrastructure development. Participants were informed about key challenges affecting the sector, including climate variability, pest pressures such as thrips, diseases like Purple Blotch and Downy Mildew, and significant post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage facilities. Unseasonal weather patterns and high temperatures were also identified as major factors impacting seed formation and yield.
PHDEC highlighted a set of technical solutions to address these challenges, including improved seed production systems through bulk-to-seed methods, optimized vernalization practices, enhanced storage management, and development of climate-resilient varieties. The importance of integrated pest management and better nutrient practices was also emphasized to improve crop health and productivity.
The webinar further stressed the need for capacity building and knowledge dissemination, including farmer trainings, development of multilingual extension materials, and establishment of demonstration plots in collaboration with Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam.
To strengthen export competitiveness, PHDEC proposed value addition initiatives such as onion dehydration, promotion of B2B linkages with international buyers, certification-based training programs, and investment in cold chain infrastructure. The session concluded with a commitment to support stakeholders through coordinated efforts in technology adoption, training, and market access to transform Pakistan’s onion sector into a more competitive and export-oriented industry.
