Description
INTRODUCTIONOnions (Allium cepa L.) are botanically included in the Liliaceae family and aftertomatoes, they are the second most horticultural vegetable with a worldwide production ofabout 64.5 million tons. The onion crop holds a unique position in the economic growth of Indiaas it is the second largest onion-producing country in the world next only to China,accounting for 16 percent of world area and 10 percent of production. Indian onions are wellknown for their pungency and serve as the highest foreign exchange earner among fruits andvegetables. There is a huge demand for Indian onions in daily cuisine across the world and thecountry has exported 12,01,245.29 MT of fresh onion to the world worth Rs.2,747.41 crores during the year 2015-16 (APEDA, 2017).