Onion-seed farming gains momentum in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Mar 15 (BSS): Onion-seed farming has been gaining momentum everywhere in the country's northwest region including its high bearing tract alongside the onion farming following gradual riseing of onion demands. Agriculturists, farmers and others concerned are expecting a bumper production of onion-seed this season due to the prevailing suitable climatic condition. They predict that around 80 to 100 mounds of seed will be produced from per bigha of land during the forthcoming harvesting season. In this regard, they said per kilograms of seed was sold at Tk 600 to 1000 in the last sowing season. Talking to the news agency, some of the farmers- Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal, Mojibur Rahman, Faruque Hossain, Akter Hossain, Younus Ali and Jakir Hossain expressed their happiness over the farming condition and said they could make profit of Tk 50,000 to 100,000 from the output. Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Nurul Amin informed that some 1850 farmers cultivated onion-seed on 50 hectares of land with total production target of 17 metric tonnes of onion seed in the district. Due to the favourable climatic condition, he said that around 350 kilograms of seed would be harvested from per hectare of land. Around 2,000 farmers would be benefited through the seed farming this season, he hoped. Meanwhile, he added that around 7,376 hectares of land were brought under onion farming in the district and most of the farmers cultivate Taherpuri variety as its yield is higher than any other variety. "We have supplied onion-seed among the farmers free of cost for boosting the growers-level production", said Nurul Amin. "So far, we are happy over the farming condition by virtue of the prevailing suitable climatic condition", said Rahim Uddin, a farmer of Bargachhi village under Paba Upazila. Additional Director of DAE, Rajshahi Zone Younus Ali told the news agency that 62,942 hectares of land were brought under the cash crop farming in eight districts of the region. He mentioned that onion has been cultivated in Bagmara and Taherpur in Rajshahi and Ishwardi and Sujanagar in Pabna districts massively. But, Taherpur is all-along famous for the onion farming. Currently, the farmers are seen humming to different public and private commercial banks especially Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) to get loan for the farming contributes a lot to enhance the acreage, he added. Abdul Khaleque Khan, Deputy General Manager of RAKUB, informed that the bank has disbursed loan of Tk 5 million to some 201 farmers in only two per cent interest rate for spicy crops farming this season in his region. He expected that the farmers would be benefited as they are getting expected market price.