Farmers in Shariatpur have started planting onion and garlic without tillage, working into the soil while it still holds moisture after the monsoon water drains. The water took longer to recede this year, so planting began late and is now in full swing.
Zero tillage spares farmers repeated ploughing and laddering, saving money, time and labour. Many spread straw or dry plant matter to hold soil moisture, and families are working the land themselves to keep labour costs down.
The district's loam and sandy loam soils suit both crops. Standing water for long periods, however, raises the risk of rotting bulbs and fungal disease, so timely planting matters.
The agriculture department has set targets of 4,350 hectares for muri-kata onion, 350 hectares for hali onion and 5,250 hectares for garlic this season.
Md Zahidul Alam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Shariatpur, told BSS that farmers are getting regular advice on keeping crops free of fungus and insects. Monitoring has been stepped up so that no dealer can create an artificial fertiliser shortage, and fertiliser and seed have been supplied under incentive programmes.
Even so, growers are anxious about high seed and fertiliser prices at the start of the season. After labour and inputs, they say, profit is hard to make without a fair price, and they are asking for fair onion and garlic prices and affordable fertiliser.
Source: BSS
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