Godagari experiences bumper onion seeds production

RAJSHAHI, Mar 8: There has been a bumper production of onion seeds in Godagari upazila of the district this year.
According to sources of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the cultivation of onion seeds was highly profitable. There was a record in cultivation of onion seeds in the upazila during the current season.
DAE sources in Godagari informed, local variety of onion seeds has been cultivated on 500 hectares of land in Godagari this year while the the land covered last year for the same was only 150 hectares in the upazila.
Sources informed, the soil of Barind region was highly suitable for cultivation of onion seed. Local people, however, termed the onion seed 'Black Gold' for its high price.
Onion farmers of the upazila informed, Tk 30,000 is required to cultivate onion seeds on one bigha of land. In one bigha, 3 to 4 maunds of onion seeds are produced. Last year, the same variety of onion seeds was sold at taka 95,000 to 100,000 per maund. As a result, farmers earned a substantial profit from selling onion seeds.
Nurul Islam, an onion farmer of Bhatopara village informed, he has been cultivating onion for producing seed for the last three years. He mentioned there was no profitable cultivation of any crop like that of onion seeds.
Kalu Mia of Sarangpur village informed the onion seeds produced in Barind region is excellent in quality. As a result, farmers from Natore, Pabna and Sirajganj rush to Godagari every year to purchase onion seeds.
However, onion farmer Abul Kashem of Mahisalbari village expressed his bitter experience about the onion seed cultivation. He said there was no loss in onion seeds cultivation. But, he said due to import or smuggling of Indian seeds, the price of locally produced onion seeds also falls in local markets.
Moreover, due to smuggling of Indian onion seeds, genuine onion seed producers of the upazila are often harassed by the law enforcement agency members during marketing of their produce. As a result, many farmers were losing interest in cultivation of onion seeds.
Majdar Hossain, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Godagari upazila in this connection said agriculture officials arrange field level workshops with the onion farmers of the upazila every year and farmers are given permits from the department so that they are not harassed by the law enforcement agency members.
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