Under the government’s incentive programme, small and marginal farmers of Chuadanga have successfully cultivated summer onions in their fields. This type of onion is cultivated through the Seed Bed-Planting Method.
Unlike the underground growth of onion bulbs, the Summer Onions grow in clusters on the soil. By using this new technique, the farmers are happy with the growth, production and quality of onion which they termed as exceptionally good. By increasing the cultivation of this type of onion countrywide, the country would get rid of the shortages as well as the import of onions. Local Agriculture Department sources expect to produce 1,280 metric tonnes of Summer onion amounting to about Taka five crore this season.
This is for the first time the cultivation of onion has been started by using the Seed Bed Planting Method in Chuadanga. Under the government's incentive programme, small and marginal farmers of the region have cultivated High Yield Variety of Nasik Red N-53 type of onion.
According to the information of the Chuadanga Agriculture Department, a total of 1,200 farmers enjoy the government's incentives in four upazilas of Chuadanga. The farmers prepare the land and sow the seed on the seed beds during the middle of June. After sowing the seeds, the seed planting bed is covered in straw so that the seeds are not damaged in rain or are not washed away. After 45-day of sowing, the small bulbs or 'Guti' onions start to emerge and within 90- days, the onion is fully grown and ready to harvest.
Under the incentive programme, the farmers are supplied seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, cash money and other necessary inputs free of cost. The quality and production of this type of Summer Onion are like those of Winter Onions. The menace of pest infestation is also less and the onion is also heat and rainwater resistant. The farmers are getting interested in cultivating this type of onion because of its quick growth in a short time and profiteering. After harvesting the onion, the farmers will cultivate Maize in this land.
Farmer Harun Mia of Kutubpur village under Chuadanaga Sadar upazila informed, ' With assistance from the government, I cultivated 'untimely' onion on one bigha of land. The cultivation cost of this type of onion is less but the production is very satisfactory. The market price of such onion is also very high. I hope to earn a profit of Tk 30,000 by selling the onions. I would cultivate this type of onion on more lands during the next year.'
Tanha, another farmer of Hatboalia village under Alamdanga informed. ' We are used to cultivate onion in Winter but onion is now being cultivated even in inclement weather conditions in Summer and this type of onion is not damaged in rain and in hot weather. Moreover, the aroma, acidity, colour and taste of this type of onion are also superior in quality. Being fresh, there is a tremendous demand for this type of onion in the markets.'
Zakir Hossain of Pirpukulla village under Damurhuda informed, ' I cultivated the Nasik Red N-53 variety of onion for the first time on my land. Many people in the village discouraged me and suggested that the untimely cultivation of this type of onion would damage the plant and production would be hampered. But, there was a satisfactory production and a less number of labourers will be required to harvest the onion'.
Taka 15,000 to 17,000 is required to cultivate this type of onion on a bigha of land which is also comparatively less. Nearly 50 to 60 maunds of onion will be produced per bigha of land. At the rate of the selling price of onion at Tk. 2,200 per maund ( as against the present market price of nearly Tk 3,600 to 3,800) it is expected to earn nearly Taka five crore from some 1,280 metric tonnes of onions to be produced on 1,200 bighas of land in the upazila.
Bivas Chandra Saha, Deputy Director of Chuadanaga Agriculture Extension department informed, ' The farmers were not interested at the first time to accept the government's incentives to cultivate the Summer Onion. 1,200 farmers were assured of compensation in case of any damage and they agreed to cultivate this type of onion. Now, many other farmers are showing interest in cultivating this unseasonal Summer onion and contacting us to procure seeds. He further said, he has visited the onion fields of the farmers and noticed there was a satisfactory production. The onion has already started to appear in the markets and fetching a good price, he added.