ZCZC
BSS-07
TARGET-ONION-RANGPUR (with picture)
Record 1.70-lakh tonnes onion production target for Rangpur region
RANGPUR, Oct 31, 2019 (BSS) – The Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) has fixed an all-time record target of producing over 1.70-lakh tonnes
of onion from 6,550 hectares of land for Rangpur agriculture region during
this Rabi season.
The DAE officials said a target of producing 75,548 tonnes of onion was
fixed from 6,868 hectares of land for Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram,
Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts in the region during the last Rabi
season.
However, farmers cultivated onion on 6,142 hectares of land and produced
66,886 tonnes of the spicy crop last season in the region.
“Considering growing demand of onion and its prevailing deficit, the DAE
has fixed a record target of producing 1.70-lakh tonnes of onion this time in
the region,” Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Agriculturist
Md. Moniruzzaman said.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh
Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear
Agriculture (BINA) are providing quality onion seed of high yielding
varieties and technical assistance to farmers.
“The farmers have already started to sow seed of early varieties of onion
from mid-October after harvesting short duration Transplanted Aman (T-Aman)
rice to harvest those from end of November for reap better profits this
season,” he said.
Meanwhile, farmers have already brought 400 hectares of land under onion
farming in Rangpur agriculture region till Wednesday,” Moniruzzaman said
adding that sowing of onion seed will get full momentum from mid-November.
The farmers will continue sowing of onion seed till the third week of
December while transplantation of onion seedling will end by the mid-January
next.
Talking to BSS, Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Muhammad
Ali said the government through the agriculture-related departments,
institutes and organisations has taken ample steps to make the onion farming
program a success this time.
Besides, the commercial banks, including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, are
disbursing easy-term agriculture loans among farmers to make the intensive
onion and other winter crops’ farming program successful in the region.
In addition to this, the DAE is providing necessary training and
technologies to farmers through the production, preservation and distribution
of high quality pulse, oil and spicy crops project to make onion farming
program successful.
Talking to BSS, farmers Echhahaq Ali, Ariful Haque, Mizanur Rahman, Alfas
Uddin and Gokul Mian of different villages of Rangpur said they have started
sowing of onion seed on their lands after harvesting early varieties of T-
Aman rice.
Vegetable trader Hafizur Rahman at Rangpur City Bazar today said early
variety of winter onion will appear in local markets from the end of November
to reduce the market price of the daily essential spicy commodity.
Agriculturist Dr, Abdul Mazid who got Independence Medal (food security
category) last year, said special steps should be taken to inspire farmers in
enhancing cultivation of both winter and summer varieties of onion to
increase it local output.
“It is possible to reduce onion import and attain self-reliance of the
essential commodity by expanding its cultivation twice a year to increase its
production by reaching the assistance being provided by the government to
farmers,” Dr. Mazid added.
BSS/SPL/MI/MR/ 1140 hrs