Because it is profitable, onion seed cultivation is growing in Manikganj district every year, and good prices are drawing more farmers to the crop. Locally, onion seed is known as "black gold".
Favourable weather and fertile land are giving good onion seed yields in Manikganj. With market demand every season, farmers are turning to onion seed heads alongside other crops. Because it earns a relatively high profit at low cost, it has now become the main source of income for many.
According to the Manikganj district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), onion seed was grown on 29 hectares in the district in the 2024-25 fiscal year, producing 16 tonnes of seed. This fiscal year it has been grown on 42 hectares.
Farmers say they have expanded cultivation because onion seed prices have been satisfactory over the past few years. With proper care and timely collection of clean seed, a good yield is possible.
Farmers turn to their own seed
Ratan Dewan of Ubhajani village told Jagonews: "I used to grow a few onions. Now I grow a lot. Because of the seed syndicate, I now grow onion seed myself. I started with 10 decimals; this time I have done it on 3 bigha. It would be good for us if the government paid a little attention, because fertiliser is expensive and labour is expensive. We want to expand onion seed farming further in future."
Robiul, a resident of the same area, told Jagonews: "A lot of onions are grown in the area. When you buy onion seed, they adulterate it a lot. That is why I grow onion seed myself. I have grown onion seed on 48 decimals of land. It will cost Tk 2 lakh until the seed is brought home. I hope to sell it for Tk 5 lakh."
Raju Ahmed told Jagonews: "Onion seed takes five months from planting to bringing it home. The farmers around us collect seed from us to grow onions."
Shahjahan Siraj, deputy director of the DAE in Manikganj, told Jagonews: "Last year onion seed was grown on 29 hectares. This year it was grown on 42 hectares. I hope cultivation will increase further in future."
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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