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39-Q N I 0 N S.160. Pre-war production of Nigerian -onions for localsupply was on a large scale. It has been expanded to meetmilitary requirements and a considerable surplus shouldpresently be available for export. Railments in 1944 were2,022 tons. A request for supplies for sierra Leone wasthen refused, as It waa considered that exports would affectlocal supplies.161. There a,re four main producing areas :-(a) Kano. The main crop is planted inthe dry season, the harvest beginsin February, and peak productionoccurs between March and September.The onion is large, white and flabby,and does not store fgp more thanthree months. •(b) Sokoto (Gusau). A dry-season 'o rop,T.haryested between February ahd June.•'; - The onion is small and firm'and• •> .. storeB well. , '& ,( d)-iZar^a. There are two crops j-( 1) Dry-season - large flat'onion harvested inJanuary-April; cropsmall.(11) Wet-season - a round onionwith reddish skin, peakperiod October-Dec ember.(d) Middle N;lfier Valley. A dry-season cropof large long cnidns, white or brown,harvested between December and March.162. Regular eoniigiments were made during 1942 tothe R.A.P., Takoradi. Losses in transit were at firstheavy but they were finally reduced to 7 er J per cent,by improved methods of packing and drying. The followingestimate of the cost of Nigerian onions landed atTakoradi is based on costings of twe consignments of 7cwtsi each sent from Gusau in 1942 :-Cost per tornTo Grower (6/6d. per owt.) £ 6.10. Od.Baskets 40 @ 5d , -.16. fld.Twine and handles ' -. 6.10d.Railway freight Apapa3. 0, Od.Ocean freight Apapa-Ta oradi v ..... 1. 8. 9d.Surcharge (50«s) -,l4. 5cLHarbour charges, stamp, etc...Apapa and Takoradi-.15. Od.Middleman and Handling3. 6. Od.£16.11. 8d.163./