Magura expects good onion prices, Gopalganj fretful

Farmers in Magura have been expecting good profit from bumper production of onions this season, while growers in Gopalganj anticipate possible losses due to low prices of the spice in the market.

Our correspondent from Magura reports, about 12,292 hectares have been brought under onion cultivation in the district, which is set to see a bumper production of 184,380 tonnes, according to sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Magura. Farmers are now harvesting onions of different varities in full swing in the district.

Fazlur Rahman, a farmer of Kalundi village in Magura's Sreepur Upazila, said he brought two bighas of land under onion cultivation, which yielded 120 maunds of onions. He added that he shall be able to make a profit of Tk 70,000 as he can sell his produce at Tk 120,000 after spending Tk 50,000 on cultivation.

Nirmal Shaha, another farmer in Tengakhalia village, said he got about 160 maunds of onion after bringing about three bighas of land under cultivation.

He said that he has stored his onions as he believes the price of the spice, currently being sold at Tk 1,000 per maund, will increase in three to four months.

High price of onion seedlings disheartened farmers this year but the frustration in them is now over as they have secured a bumper production and quality produce, said Golapdi Biswas, a farmer of Sreekol village in Magura's Sreepur. "I shall be able to make a handsome profit from my onion."

Farmers said two weeks ago rainfall raised fear of poor quality onions during harvest, but the worries cleared soon with only light rainfall that were not harmful.

Md Robiul Islam, agriculture marketing officer of the district, said newly harvested onion has started to appear in the local market. Onion growers in Magura will be able to secure a "reasonable" financial return from the onion and they are enjoying a bumper production, the agricultural official also said.

Our correspondent from Gopalganj writes, falling prices of onions have left farmers uncertain on whether they will be able to make any profit from this year's harvest.

Dr. Md. Mamunur Rahman, deputy director (DD), Agriculture, Gopalganj DAE, said a total of 5,906 hectares of land have been brought under onion cultivation with the involvement of 29,500 male and female farmers in the district. The production target is currently at 72,349 tonnes, which has a market price of about Tk 2.89 billion.

Laal Teer King and Metal King onion varities comprise most of the crop's cultivation in Muksudpur Upazila, where the spice was farmed on a total of 3,865 hectares, according to sources from the upazila agriculture office.

Sujan Mollah (35) of Muksudpur's Khalisa Kandi village, cultivated Laal Teer King onion on 15.75 bighas, at a cost of Tk 750,000. He said if the weather condition remains favourable, he will get 800 maunds of onion, which has a market price of Tk 1.28 million. He added that he could not reach the profit target in other years due to fall in onion price and the situation may be the same in this year.

Emtiaz Hossain, sub-assistant agriculture officer under Maharajpur Union of Muksudpur Upazila, said a total of 670 hectares were brought under onion cultivation in the union, where about 3,500 small and marginal farmers are involved in the farming. If the climate remains favourable, growers will be able to produce about 8,208 tonnes of onion this year, the SAAO said.

Nurnoby Forhad (32), a farmer of Muksudpur's Lohair village, cultivated Metal King onion on 11.03 bighas. He said that he expects 560 maunds of onions and currently a maund of onion is selling at Tk 900 to Tk 1,000, whereas the cost of cultivation is at Tk 525,000.

Nurnoby said that he had not reached the profit target last year due to fall in onion price and perhaps the situation would be the same this year.

Md. Mijanur Rahman, upazila agriculture officer (UAO), in Muksudpur, Gopalganj, said the probable production target is at 54,138 tonnes in the upazila, which has a market price of Tk 1.46 billion. About 3,500 farmers are involved in cultivating the crop, which matures within 120 days, the UAO also said.

Gopalganj DAE DD Mr Rahman said farmers have been cultivating onions more in quantity than they did in the past, but the profit of growers will be less this year due to the fall in market price.

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