By Muhammad Mudassar ISLAMABAD, Feb. 07 (INP-WealthPK) Pakistan globally stands at 6th and 9th position in terms of onion production and area cultivation respectively. Sindh is the largest producer standing at the top with 40 percent (0.9 million tons) of total production followed by Baluchistan with 35 percent (0.7 million tons). The remaining 25 percent is produced in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan produced 2.1 million tons of onion in the Fiscal Year 2021 by cultivating 0.15-million-hectares. Domestic consumption was 2.9 million tons in 2020, while USD3.2 million worth of dried and USD124 million worth of fresh onion was exported during the year. However, the same year (FY 2021), Pakistan imported USD0.5 million worth of dried and USD28.8 million worth of fresh onion due to a lack of paperwork and available storage facilities. In the peak season, Pakistan exports dried and fresh onion but in the low season, the product is imported from Afghanistan, Iran, and Thailand. Pakistan recently signed a protocol with China for the export of onion. Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said the agreement will help increase onion production and bring people of the two sides closer to each other. Nong Rong said this development will open new doors for more Pakistani agriculture products to enter the Chinese markets. The price of onion depends on supply and demand, so there is uncertainty about its price among the farmers. Since most farmers own smallholdings, the price uncertainty factor hits them hard. To avoid uncertainty among the farmers, the government should set a support price for onion crops. The national average yield stands around 14 tons per hectare as against Korea 54 tons, Australia 45 tons, Japan 37 tons, and Iran 30 tons per hectare. The crop production can increase if certain incentives and basic infrastructure are provided to the local farmers. For better management, the farmers can adopt a value chain approach for onion crops that require skilled workers. Owing to the unavailability of water, many areas remain uncultivable in the country. The government should build small dams near the major rivers for easy access to water all year round. This would also help prevent flood damages. Pakistan can increase onion exports after fulfilling all the requirements and completing paperwork. Owing to a lack of basic infrastructure and appropriate harvest technologies, the farmers bear 30 to 40 percent post-harvest losses. The major reasons for the gap between supply and demand are poor crop management and post-harvest losses. Climate also plays an important role in agriculture production. Owing to climate change, the weather pattern is changing rapidly and the resultant heat stress at critical reproductive stages reduces onion productivity. There is a need for research and development in this sector through the cooperation of all stakeholders.