Onion is one of India’s most important vegetable crops, integral to every household, critical to farmer livelihoods, and a key driver of the national horticulture economy. Yet despite its economic importance, onion production remains vulnerable to climatic fluctuations, market volatility, and postharvest losses. These challenges often translate into income instability for farmers and price spikes for consumers, underscoring the need for a resilient and inclusive onion value chain strategy. The World Vegetable Center, in partnership with the Directorate of Horticulture and the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, has been at the forefront of strengthening the onion value chain through its multi-phase initiative supported under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Over the past two phases, this collaborative effort has focused on introducing improved varieties, promoting scientific crop management, and demonstrating postharvest technologies that minimize losses and stabilize market supplies. Through these interventions, farmers have gained access to better-quality seed, adopted improved cultivation and storage practices, and benefited from enhanced market linkages. The project has also placed a strong emphasis on women’s participation, helping ensure a more equitable and sustainable value chain. The WorldVeg onion strategy builds on these learnings to provide a roadmap for scaling innovations across India. It envisions a future in which smallholders, especially women, benefit from improved productivity, reduced losses, and greater resilience to climate and market risks. Strengthening the onion value chain is not only an economic priority but also a step toward achieving broader goals of nutrition security, rural prosperity, and climate-smart agriculture. We extend our appreciation to all partners, farmers, and field teams whose commitment and collaboration have made this initiative a success. Together, we aim to continue building resilient value chains that empower communities and ensure that the benefits of innovation reach every onion-growing household in India.
