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Lasalgaon onion

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Lasalgaon onion (लासलगाव कांदा)
Geographical indication
Alternative namesNiphad red, Nashik red, Lasalgaon Light Red
DescriptionLasalgaon onion is a red onion variety in Maharashtra
Typeonion
AreaLasalgaon
CountryIndia
Registered31 March 2016
Official websiteipindia.gov.in

Lasalgaon onion is a variety of red onion grown in the Indian state of Maharashtra.[1] It is a common and widely cultivated crop in Lasalgaon located in the Niphad taluka of the Nashik district.[2] Lasalgaon has the largest onion market in India and the Asian continent.[3][4][5][6] Significantly, the Lasalgaon onion market rate serves as a benchmark, influencing onion prices across the Asian market.[7]

Under its Geographical Indication tag, it is referred to as "Lasalgaon onion".[8]

Name

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Lasalgaon is a prominent hub for onion cultivation and thus the onion's name is derived from this town, with 99% of its agricultural area dedicated to this crop, engaging over 1,000 farmers. The region's onion market is equally impressive, handling approximately 2.5 lakh tonnes of onions annually. This variety is also known by other names, including Niphad red and Nashik red.[9]

Local name

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It is known locally as "Lasalgaon Kanda" (लासलगाव कांदा). The word "Kanda" means onion in the local state language of Marathi.[10]

Description

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List of characteristics and facts about Lasalgaon onion:[11]

Characteristics

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  • Light red color with strong pungent taste
  • High percentage of Sulphur in the soil[12]
  • Larger bulb size (4–6 cm diameter)[13] with 16-17 layers of outer dried intact scales
  • High total soluble sugar content (13°Brix) and high dry matter content (17.67-17.27%)
  • Long storage life (8–9 months)

Uses

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  • Used in direct consumption or mixed with other vegetables and soups
  • Used as a condiment and flavoring agent
  • Made into sauce, ketchup, and chutney
  • Exported as dried onion chips and powder
  • Rich in vitamins B and C, and minerals Ca and Fe
  • Medicinal properties for treating ear aches, colic pain, and more[14]

Cultivation

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  • Onion production typically occurs in three seasons: Kharif (May–July to Oct-Dec.), Late-Kharif (Aug-Sep. to Jan-Mar), and Rabi (Oct-Nov. to April–June).[4][15][16]
  • The Lasalgaon Light Red variety is specifically cultivated during the Rabi season, which spans from October to March.
  • Lasalgaon has a well-established market with many traders and a railway station, facilitating efficient marketing.[17] The region's traditional method of onion storage (chawl) and cultivation practices have been passed down through generations.

Soil and Climate

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  • The black soil of Lasalgaon has a unique composition, with high alumina, carbonates of calcium and magnesium, and variable amounts of potash. The soil pH ranges from 6–8, making it mildly to moderately alkaline. The high sulphur content in the soil contributes to the onion's pungent taste.

Storage facilities

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  • The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has established a specialized cold storage facility for onions at Krushak, the irradiation centre in Lasalgaon, Nashik in December 2023. This facility boasts a storage capacity of 250 tonnes.[18]

Exports

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Geographical indication

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It was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry, under the Union Government of India, on 31 March 2016 and is valid until 28 November 2031.[8][20]

Baliraja Shetkari Gat from Lasalgaon, proposed the GI registration of Lasalgaon onion. After filing the application in November 2021, the Onion was granted the GI tag in 2023 by the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, making the name "Lasalgaon onion" exclusive to the Onion grown in the region. It thus became the second onion variety from India after Bangalore rose onion of Karnataka and the 17th type of goods from Maharashtra to earn the GI tag.[21]

The GI tag protects the onion from illegal selling and marketing, and gives it legal protection and a unique identity.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Onions sell at record price of Rs 130 per kg in wholesale market in Lasalgaon; rates to go up even further, caution traders". Firstpost. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Onion shortage: Here's why farmers gained little from record price rise". Business Standard. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Lasalgaon onion market sets aside 74-yr-old belief to recover Covid losses, keeps business open on Amavasya". The Indian Express. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b Pandit, Vinaya Deshpande (14 September 2024). "Onion export duty slash: Mixed reactions in India's largest onion producing State". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Onion farmers content as prices up ahead of Maharashtra polls". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  6. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Onion prices rise in Lasalgaon wholesale market after scrapping of MEP". Business Standard Private Ltd. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Lasalgaon onion". Intellectual Property India. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  9. ^ Wazir, Ravi (20 June 2024). Beyond the Menu: A Restaurant Start-up Guide: Launching and Managing a Profitable Restaurant. Jaico Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-19792-23-8. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Kanda Bajarbhav : लासलगाव-निफाड मार्केटमधील उन्हाळ कांदा बाजारभाव, जाणून घ्या सविस्तर". Lokmat (in Marathi). 22 September 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Lasalgaon Onion". Intellectual Property India. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  12. ^ "8 Unique GI Tagged Foods In Maharashtra You Should Try". Times Now. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Geographical indications of vegetables in india". Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Agriculture department starts Geographical Indication process for Lasalgaon onions". The Times of India. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Kharif onion cultivation doubles in Nashik dist". The Times of India. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Why onion prices have crashed in Lasalgaon wholesale market". The Indian Express. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Railways to provide more rakes for onion transportation". The Times of India. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Onion cold storage facility at Lasalgaon irradiation plant". The Times of India. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Foreign currencies from onion export dip 41% in last fiscal". The Times of India. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  20. ^ Bhattacharya, Niharika Sahoo (13 September 2022). Geographical Indication Protection in India: The Evolving Paradigm. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-19-4296-9. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  21. ^ "GI seal set to make Lasalgaon's onions a brand". The Times of India. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
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