Onion growers adopt new methods to increase yield and beat weather in Junnar | Pune News

Pune: Onion growers in Junnar are adopting new methods to increase production and cope with unpredictable weather.
They have switched to drip and sprinkle irrigation practices and are using mulching paper to maintain moisture at the roots of their crops, effectively combating heat.
Farmers reported that their traditional methods became less effective in recent years due to adverse weather conditions. However, these new approaches significantly improved their yields. Many farmers noted an increase in production of 40% to 60%.
Ishwar Gaykar, a farmer from Junnar, told TOI, “Previously, we would achieve a maximum of 10 tonnes per acre. With the implementation of drip and sprinkle irrigation and mulching paper, our production increased to 14 to 16 tonnes per acre. This is a significant improvement for us.”
As a result, many farmers who can afford to invest in these methods made the switch in the past few years in Junnar tehsil.
Currently, many onion growers are concerned about overcast weather as it hampers overall growth of crops and creates a favourable environment for bacterial growth.
Major Singh, former director, Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research Centre in Rajgurnagar, told TOI, “These new methods are necessary and scientifically proven. In fact, we recommended them to growers after conducting necessary in-house testing. Gradually, these methods are gaining traction among onion farmers in Maharashtra.”
He said that mulching paper helps farmers manage weeds and maintain the required moisture at the roots throughout all seasons.
“Additionally, drip and sprinkling irrigation enables them to water crops more effectively. Furthermore, they can apply liquid fertilisers and pesticides directly to the roots. In conventional farming, growers often rely on estimations, but with these methods, they must follow specific recommendations. This distinction makes a significant difference,” Singh added.
A section of scientists from the directorate noted that these methods resulted in reduced labour costs and improved quality and yield.
“However, one concern is that growers need to be knowledgeable and follow the instructions strictly. We observed that many young farmers can successfully implement these methods. Secondly, this approach requires capital investment increase of 30 to 40%, which some farmers may struggle to afford,” said a scientist who wished to remain anonymous.
Jalinder Gawande, a farmer from Ambegahvan village in Junnar, shared his experience of cultivating onions on a trial basis over half an acre using mulching paper and drip irrigation.
He said, “The cost per acre is nearly Rs 1.5 lakh, which is a significant investment. I found the courage to try it this year after hearing success stories from farmers in neighbouring villages. I am hopeful of good returns.”
Onion farmers faced fluctuating prices for their yield in the past year, with wholesale prices dropping from Rs 5,000 per tonne to Rs 2,000 within the last two weeks.
Ramesh Bangar, another farmer from Junnar, said, “Last year, my yield increased by four tonnes per acre. Consequently, I decided to cultivate onions this year using mulching paper and drip irrigation. My investment will exceed Rs 1 lakh by the time I harvest. However, I achieved a good yield last year because I was able to use pesticides and fertilisers judiciously, which was not the case with conventional methods.”