Onion is essentially traded intra-regionally by ECOWAS Member States. From 2010 to 2018, the total production of onion in the region has increased by 25.5% reaching 90310 tonnes in 2018 (FAOSTAT, 2020). Earlier, in 2013, the support of the ECOWAS and its partners in terms of trade facilitation initiatives led an increase of US$ 2.25 million to the income of the local farmers and lowered their dependence on imports. An upgrade of the onion value chain will enable the region to export to other regions while improving the revenue of local farmers.
Senegal
In Senegal, Onion is one of the value chains with significant potential for transformation/value addition. Onion is the main horticultural product of the country in terms of both volume and number of actors involved. The cropping is practised by around 15 000 smallholders, most of them living in the poorest areas of Senegal. Onion cultivation is more profitable for small producers than most other irrigated agriculture produce in the areas of production. There is a significant unmet demand for dried onion powder from the growing local production, which is still beset by an unacceptably high level of post-harvest losses. The support of the project will allow the structuring of onion producers in cooperative societies active in the production, processing and marketing of onions in order to ensure Senegal’s self-sufficiency in quality onion and eventually export on the markets of the sub-region.
The Gambia
The agricultural sector in the Gambia is the main provider of food and income for its population, especially rural communities whose livelihood comes from crops and livestock production for income-generating activities. The production of vegetables is recognized by the government and contributes 4% of GDP. There are many vegetable crops grown by women, but recently onion production has gained more attention in the farming communities. Onion has simple agronomic, practice and high economic returns with good management practices.
Onion is considered as one of the most important vegetables produced on a large scale in the Gambia. The number of farmers that engages in onion production has increased year on year. The importance of agriculture in fostering socio-economic development in the Gambia can never be over-emphasized. Improving the Onion Value-Chain in the Gambia will expand revenue streams for local farmers.
