As every year, farmers in Manikganj are busy growing onions. Favourable weather and good care bring bumper onion harvests to this district next to Dhaka, and onions are grown commercially in each of its seven upazilas. But with more land under the crop this year, farmers are worried about prices.

Onions are grown most in Harirampur, Shibalaya, Ghior and Saturia upazilas. Having got good prices last year, farmers are keener on onions this year, though costs have doubled compared with last year. Children are working in the onion fields alongside the men of the family.

According to the district agriculture office, this season's onion target in Manikganj is 7,035 hectares, and onions have already been planted on 1,308 hectares. Last year onions were grown on 7,035 hectares in the district. Officials expect the target to be exceeded this year.

Md Hayat Ali, a farmer in Rajarkalta in Harirampur upazila, said: "I have been growing onions regularly for about two decades. Onion fields need regular care; in particular, if water and fertiliser are not given on time, you don't get the expected yield. Farmers are frustrated about onion prices every season, but last season they were happy with high prices. But if onion prices fall too much, farmers will make a loss."

Abdul Awal of the same village said: "Every year after cutting Aman paddy I used to grow mustard on some land. Seeing sky-high onion prices in the market, I am very interested and have prepared to grow onions on two bighas this season alongside other Rabi crops."

Chhobed, a farmer in Nali union of Ghior upazila, said: "The cost of growing onions has doubled per bigha this year. It will cost Tk 80,000 to 90,000 a bigha. I will grow onions on 6 bighas this year."

Agriculturist Muhammad Motiar Rahman, district training officer of the Manikganj Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told Jagonews: "In Manikganj, 1,308 hectares of the target have been planted so far. Last year's total onion achievement was 7,035 hectares. Since the weather is still good, I hope the target will be exceeded this year. We are encouraging farmers to grow new onion varieties, and have helped them with some fertiliser and improved seed."

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