Onion seed growers enjoying bumper yields

Onion seed farmers in Faridpur, a major growing district in southern Bangladesh, are enjoying bumper yields this year as the weather was favourable during cultivation, according to market players.

This comes as a welcome development following poor harvests last season, when much of the crop was damaged by bad weather and pest infestations.

Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur say 1,867 hectares of land were brought under onion seed cultivation this year with an expected yield of 747 tonnes.

In 2022, a total of 1,714 hectares of land were cultivated to produce just 258 tonnes of the crop.

During a recent visit to the Ambikapur area of Faridpur sadar upazila, this correspondent found that onion seed growers are busy preparing their harvest for sale.

Shahida Begum, one of the biggest onion seed farmers in Bangladesh, said she cultivated the crop on 15 acres in Faridpur, five acres in Dinajpur and 45 acres in Thakurgaon for about Tk 1.75 lakh per acre.

As such, she expects a total yield of about 20 tonnes this year.

Other than poor yields, farmers failed to get good prices last year as cheaper varieties of onion seed were imported from India to make up for the lack of local production.

Besides, growers alleged that for every two tonnes of onion seed imported through formal channels, another three tonnes were brought in illegally, keeping market prices low amid increased availability.

"But I think we will get good prices this year as local production is adequate," Shahida added.

Md Julhas Khan, an onion seed grower of Krishanapur village under Faridpur sadar upazila, said he cultivated eight acres this year at a cost of Tk 13 lakh with the hope of getting 40 maunds of onion seed.

"I had invested Tk 14 lakh last year to grow onion seeds but could not sell more than Tk 7 lakh worth of the crop as production was very low due to bad weather while Indian seeds were available at very low prices," he added.

Similarly, Nayan Mia, another onion seed farmer of the same village, said he spent Tk 3 lakh to cultivate five bighas in 2022 to get just Tk 1.35 lakh in return.

So, he reduced the acreage to only two bighas this year but got a bumper yield of 300 kilogrammes.

"We will get good prices this year if Indian seeds do not enter local markets," he added.

Md Ishaque Mollah, an onion seed grower of Vayardanga village under Bhanga upazila, said he cultivated 15 acres of land this year for Tk 25 lakh, of which Tk 10 lakh was borrowed.

"I hope to get at least 45 maunds of onion seed to make up for last year's loss," he added.

Chan Mollah, another local farmer, said onion seed cultivation is more expensive compared to other crops and so, small farmers like him may discontinue production should they fail to secure good prices this time around.

Md Harun, an onion seed grower of the same area, said farmers are often deprived of adequate prices for having to sell their crops to middlemen in absence of proper marketing.

Mostafa Biswas, another local farmer, said they would not face such problems if the government avoids buying onion seed from abroad.

Md Ziyaul Haque, deputy director of the Faridpur DAE, said they have been working to raise awareness among farmers to purchase seeds from local producers rather than seek foreign sources.

"Onion farmers will get good yields this year due to favourable weather and hopefully, prices will be good also," he added.