Farmers in Kishoreganj are happy with the bumper yield of onion. The price of onion is going up in the country's market. Buyers expect the government to rein in onion prices on the eve of Ramadan. The Department of Agricultural Extension says farmers will see the benefits and ordinary people will get onions at low prices during Ramadan.
Onion farmers have repeatedly suffered losses but this time they are dreaming of profit. Seeing their smiling faces, it has been understood that there is satisfaction among them. Agriculture officials are constantly giving advice to the farmers of the district. Assistance is also being provided to the middlemen so that they are not forced to sell onions for less money.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the target for onion cultivation this year has been set at 755 hectares. 736 hectares have already been planted. The production target has been set at 8,250 metric tonnes. Almost all agricultural households have onions. Cultivation is expected to increase gradually.
Md. Kabir Hossain, a farmer from Daurite village of Pakundia upazila, said, "We have cultivated Bari-1 variety of onion in 33 decimal of the land this year."
“I hope to get good yield. Many times we did not get the fair price of onion. However, we are hopeful to make good profit this year. Farmers are often deprived of getting fair price of onion,” he said.
Many farmers in the district said that there is no official system for onion storage. That's why they can't store onions. There is no space anywhere in the houses of farmers to store the huge amount of onions.
Onions need special care for storing. We will get the right price if the onion is stored officially, they added.
Hamimul Haque Sohag, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer, Angiadi Block, Pakundia Upazila, said, "Farmers are being advised on various issues for the cultivation of onion, the spice crop and how to store those onions in the farmer's house properly."
Initiatives are being taken to motivate farmers to cultivate summer onions.
Md. Saiful Alam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension said, “We hoped the onion crop would be good this year. We are also making sure that the farmers get fair price. I think onion farmers will make a good profit.”
