Farmers across Manikganj district are in a rush to plant hali onion seedlings. Braving the cold, they are working in groups in the fields from the crack of dawn until evening.

In the fields, farmers sit in rows from early morning planting onion seedlings. One group of workers lifts the seedlings (hali) and hands them to the workers in the field. As soon as planting is finished, the land is irrigated and sprayed with fertiliser and pesticide.

According to the agriculture office, onion cultivation on a total of 3,950 hectares is expected in the district this year, and so far onions have been planted on 503 hectares. Cultivation is expected to exceed the target this year, and it will take another 15-20 days to finish. Harirampur and Shibalaya upazilas grow the most hali onions in the district.

Arif Hossain, a farmer from Shimulia village in Shibalaya upazila, said: "This time I sowed 5 kg of onion seed. The seedlings it produced will let me plant hali onions on 5 bighas."

Mamun, from Alondi village in Gala union of Harirampur upazila, said: "This year I have planted hali onions on 3 acres. The seedlings are good and I hope for a good yield. Workers are being paid Tk 500-600 each. Because everyone started at the same time, demand for labour is high, so the wage is a little higher. Planting will be finished within 15-20 days."

Majlish Mia, a farmer from Mahadebpur, said: "We Manikganj farmers planted a lot of murikata onions. We will lose money on murikata onions this year, and unless onion prices rise we will lose on hali onions too."

Dr Rabiah Nur Ahmed, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told Jagonews: "The soil and weather of Manikganj are very well suited to onion cultivation. Farmers began planting onion seedlings nearly a month ago. There are enough seedlings, the fields are ready for planting and farmers are working flat out."

"We hope the target will be exceeded this time. We have always stood by farmers to help with crop production. But the DAE has no real involvement in controlling or setting prices," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.