16,000 farmers get fresh onion seeds from BADC

FE REPORT

Approximately 16,000 farmers, who were impacted while trying to grow onions from poor quality seeds handed over to them by Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), were provided with fresh seeds.

The new seeds, sourced both locally and internationally, were delivered to them on an emergency basis, according to sources from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The sources also said officials responsible for supplying "counterfeit" seeds have been temporarily suspended from their posts.

A group within the BADC reportedly looted millions of taka by importing low-quality seeds after they were entrusted with the responsibility to hand-over the seeds instead of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), which sources said had opened the door for corruption.

The ministry recently suspended two BADC officials temporarily in this regard for their alleged involvement in purchasing low quality seeds.

The smiles on the faces of thousands of farmers among the 34,000, who had received onion seeds free of costs under a DAE initiative, have faded away after they watched their labour to grow the crop withered away on fertile fields this year.

Despite sowing the seeds on time and following proper procedures, 95 per cent of the onion seedlings failed to sprout.

To address the crisis, thirty-four tonnes of onion seeds supplied by the BADC were distributed across 59 districts to boost onion production.

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