A total of 350 participants joined the Onion Cultivation Technology Course organised by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) here today.
The course covered key topics including crop variety adaptation, large-scale farming, pest and disease management, post-harvest handling, and market intelligence.
MARDI Director-General Datuk Dr. Haji Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani said the program, initiated by Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, aims to introduce rural communities to the economic potential of red onion farming.
Participants received hands-on training and insights into practical farming methods. The course also featured a sharing session by Kundasang farmer Shahrizal Denci, who planted MARDI's BAW-2 onion variety on four hectares last year.
MARDI is accelerating commercial seed production and distribution, appointing 15 seed entrepreneurs nationwide including two from Sabah to meet growing demand. Currently, three pilot farmers in Sabah are involved, with expected yields of 1–2 metric tons per season.
Participants expressed enthusiasm. Paula Kium, 51, said she’s eager to start farming onions, while Damil Ungabu, 40, plans to use his family’s five-acre land for cultivation. Sakim Ibrahim, 60, head of the Sook Area Farmers’ Organisation, hopes the course will uplift the local farming community and turn Sook into a model onion hub in Sabah.
