ONION
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Onion (Allium cepa) is one of the important commercial vegetable crops grown in India . It is widely grown in different parts of the country mainly by small and marginal farmers. It is used as salad or cooked in various ways in all curries, fried, boiled or baked. It is also used in processed forms e.g. flakes, powder paste, pickles etc. It has very good medicinal value. Nutritive value of onion varies from variety to variety. Small sized onions are more nutritive than big ones. Its major value is in its flavour. Onion ranks medium in calorific value, low in protein and very low in vitamins. The perfetual demand of onions within the country and for the export has made it essential to supply onions round the year either from fresh harvest or from stocks. Annual production of onion is estimated to be about 74.50 Lakh tonnes. This quantity is enough to meet the present domestic requirement as well as export of onions. It is also necessary to have proper planning for production, post-harvest handling, storage as well as marketing so as to maintain the stability in prices and supplies. It is, however, necessary to make efforts for increasing production and minimizing post- harvest losses for meeting increasing demand both in domestic as well as export markets. |
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The
chemical composition of onion is given as under:
Chemical
composition of onion ( nutritive value per 100 g of onion )
|
Particulars |
Big |
Small |
Onion |
Dehydrated |
|
Moisture (g) |
86.60 |
84.30 |
87.60 |
4.60 |
|
Protein (g) |
01.20 |
1.80 |
0.90 |
10.60 |
|
Fat (g) |
0.10 |
0.10 |
0.20 |
0.80 |
|
Minerals (g) |
0.40 |
0.60 |
0.80 |
3.50 |
|
Fibre (g) |
0.60 |
0.60 |
1.60 |
6.40 |
|
Carbohydrate (g) |
11.10 |
12.60 |
8.90 |
74.10 |
|
Energy ( K cal ) |
50.00 |
59.00 |
41.00 |
------- |
|
Calcium (mg) |
46.90 |
40.00 |
50.00 |
300.00 |
|
Phosphorus (mg) |
50.00 |
60.00 |
50.00 |
290.00 |
|
Iron (mg) |
0.60 |
1.20 |
7.43 |
2.00 |
|
Carotene (ug) |
----- |
15.00 |
595.00 |
----- |
|
Thiamin (mg) |
0.08 |
0.08 |
----- |
0.42 |
|
Riboflavin (mg) |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.03 |
0.06 |
|
Niacin (mg) |
0.40 |
0.50 |
0.30 |
----- |
| Folic acid ( total ) (mg) |
6.00
|
-----
|
-----
|
-----
|
|
Vitamin C (mg) |
11.00 |
2.00 |
17.00 |
147.00 |
|
Magnesium (mg) |
16.00 |
----- |
104.00 |
----- |
|
Sodium (mg) |
4.00 |
----- |
2.20 |
40.00 |
|
Potassium (mg) |
127.00 |
----- |
109.00 |
1000.00 |
|
Copper (mg) |
0.18 |
----- |
0.45 |
----- |
|
Manganese (mg) |
0.18 |
----- |
0.74 |
----- |
|
Molybdenum (mg) |
0.03 |
----- |
2.29 |
----- |
|
Zinc (mg) |
0.41 |
----- |
----- |
----- |
Source
: 1, Nutritive Value of Indian Foods, NIN, Hyderabad ; 2, CFTRI,
Mysore.
AREA
, PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY
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A global review of area and production of major vegetable crops shows that onion ranks second in area under vegetables and third in production in the world. As per FAO 2005 reports, the world production of onion was 57.91 million tonnes from 3.18 million ha area, China being first in area and production (0.90 million ha and 19.05 million tonnes) and India second (0.46 million ha and 6.22 million tonnes as per NHRDF Estimates) during 2005. The productivity of onion is highest in Korea Republic (62.50 tonnes/ha), followed by Ireland (55.92 tonnes/ha), Netherlands (53.33 tonnes/ha), USA (51.19 tonnes/ha), Chile (48.72 tonnes/ha), Japan (47.09 tonnes/ha), Spain (46.34 tonnes/ha) and India (10.38 tonnes/ha). The main reason for low productivity in India is follow up of traditional cultivation methods and use of local varieties. In India, Maharashtra is a leading onion growing state followed by Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The productivity of onion is highest in Gujarat (20.01 tonnes / ha) followed by Maharashtra (19.70 tonnes / ha), Haryana (19.69 tonnes/ha). |
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ONION
FIELD
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