Onion harvest faces setback for untimely rain, hailstorm

Onion seed growers of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh suffered a setback only a few days before harvesting due to pest attack brought on by untimely rainfall and the damage caused by Saturday's hailstorm.   

The most affected fields are in Duoshuo, Bara Palashbari and Barabari unions in Baliadangi upazila, and Akcha and Mohammadpur unions in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.  

Haidar Ali, 40, son of Abdus Samad of Duoshuo village, told this correspondent that he cultivated onion for seed production on one acre of land spending Tk 75,000. He expected to harvest the crop in three or four days and get 250 kg. Unfortunately, his field was damaged in the hailstorm.

Mohidul Islam, 32, of Parua village said he cultivated onion on 33 decimals of land, which was totally damaged in the hailstorm, adding that he spent Tk 30,000 and is facing a total loss.

Besides, onion farmers are uncertain about getting good production due to pest attack caused by untimely rainfall during the last fifteen days.

Agro officials and farmers said sunshine is needed in the last quarter of the cultivation period, but there was untimely rain and damp weather, which caused the pest attack.      

Saddam Hossain, 40, of Dinmara village in Atway upazila of Panchagarh told this correspondent that he cultivated onion for seeds on 50 decimals of land spending around Tk 52,000. His total crop died due to sudden pest attack about 18 to 20 days ago.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Thakurgaon Maududul Islam said onion has been cultivated on 350 hectares of land against the target of 335 hectares in Thakurgaon, while 1,281 hectares of land were cultivated against the target of 1,250 hectares in Panchagarh.

Thakurgaon DAE officials said ten demonstration plots have been prepared for onion seed production in the district.

Onion seed cultivation is gaining ground in the districts, especially in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila and Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh, due to the good return compared to the investment.  

DAE officials advised farmers to spray fungicides on the plants that will be ready for harvesting in 10 to 12 more days.