BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
MBABANE – Local farmer have given the recent Onion Information Day hosted by Sakata Seed a ‘thumbs up.’
Sakata Seed Southern Africa teamed up with Eswatini Agricultural Supplies and National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard) for an Onion Information Day on November 6, 2024, focusing on educating local farmers about the differences between open pollinated and hybrid onion varieties. The event was hosted in Manzini.
One of the local farmers who attended the event, Mbuso Vilakati, thanked the team who put together the event. He said one of the most valuable aspects of the Onion Information Day was the opportunity for farmers to build networks with their peers, which enables them to shares ideas and skills.
Sakata Seed’s Mthunzi shared that the key topics that they focused on during the event included quality, yield, and disease resistance, with a display comparing Texas Grand open pollinated variety to Sakata’s Hoshi F1 hybrid onion.
“We also shared insights on onion drying processes, planting slots, and selecting the right varieties for each slot,” Mthunzi revealed. In addition, the Onion Information Day provided farmers and interested stakeholders with information on best practices for onion cultivation.
Local farmers who attended the event also needed more information on land preparation, fertiliser application, pest and disease management, harvesting and post-harvest handling and storage. In conclusion, thanked all the farmers who attended the event.
“Thank you to all the farmers who attended the event, as they had been able to learn. Together, Sakata, Eswatini Agricultural Supplies, and NAMBoard are committed to advance food production and supporting Eswatini’s farmers,” he concluded.
