RANGPUR, March 19, 2021 (BSS) – Farmers are expecting a bumper production
of onion in Rangpur agriculture region where harvesting of the spicy crop
continues in full swing with excellent yield rate during this Rabi season.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) at
its regional office Agriculturist Khandker Abdul Wahed said farmers are
reaping better profits from selling their newly harvested onion in all five
districts of the region.
The DAE had fixed a production target of 95,207 tonnes of onion from
9,750 hectares of land for all five districts in the region at the average
yield rate of 9.36 tonnes per hectare this season aiming at increasing onion
production and meeting its local demand.
“However, farmers have finally cultivated onion on 9,392 hectares of
land, less by only 358 hectares of land or 96.33 percent against the fixed
farming target for the region this season,” he said.
Farmers have cultivated onion on 2,825 hectares of land in Rangpur, 2,005
hectares in Gaibandha, 2,550 hectares in Kurigram, 845 hectares in
Lalmonirhat and on 1,167 hectares of land in Nilphamari districts of the
region.
During the last season, farmers brought 8,647 hectares of land under
onion cultivation and produced 80,940 tonnes of the spicy crop at an average
yield rate of 9.36 tonnes per hectare of land.
The DAE and other agriculture related departments, organisations and
institutes implemented various programmes to assist farmers in making the
intensive onion farming programme successful.
“Till Thursday, farmers have harvested onion on 2,758 hectares of land
already producing 33,823 tonnes of the spicy crop with an excellent average
yield rate of 12.26 tonnes per hectare,” Agriculturist Wahed said.
Getting quality onion seeds free of costs and other assistance from the
government, farmers have cultivated onion on more lands to increase
production and reap additional benefits.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Dr. Md. Sarwarul
Haque said the northern region has a huge potential to increase onion
production by ensuring proper crop diversification, management and
utilisation of latest scientific technologies.
“The DAE, Spices Research Institutes and other agriculture related
institutions and organisations are working to further increase onion
production for meeting its local demand and ultimately reduce its import to
the zero level in the future,” he said.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid lauded various steps taken by the government to
cultivate onion twice a year to increase its output on the way to attain
self-reliance.
Talking to BSS, farmers Mokhlesur Rahman, Anwarul Islam and Echhahaq Ali
of different villages in Rangpur Sadar upazila said they are harvesting their
cultivated onion and reaping better profits now.
Vegetable trader Hafizur Rahman at Rangpur City Bazar said the average
market price of locally produced onion came down to Taka 36 per kg after the
appearance of plenty of newly harvested onions in local markets.