When the farmers in the district have sold out about 95 per cent of their onion in the market incurring heavy loss during the harvesting season, the market of the spicy crop has been showing abnormal rise in selling price. Each maund of 40 kilograms of onion has been selling at Taka 9,000 to 9,300 in the largest onion market at Shailkupa in Jhenidah.
The uprising trend in price although has been satisfying the businessmen, disheartening the farmers and common consumers as there in virtually no body to tackle the situation.
When this correspondent talked to a number of onion farmers of largest onion producing villages Paikpara, Aushia, Sondah and some other villages, they said the farmers sold their hard earned produces at Taka 500 to 600 a maund during the season.
Further, huge onion was rotten due to heavy downpour and hot weather during the harvesting hours. It had broken the backbone of the farmers in the district and surrounding areas.
Each maund of onion is sold at Taka 9,000 to 9,300 in Shailkupa market where most of the sellers were seems not farmers and unknown. The trend also spread its flame in the retail market where the same was sold at Taka 250 to 260 each kilogram. Most of the consumers hardly purchase 200 to 250 grams.
The farmers informed that some of them brought a few quantity of early variety onion known as Murikata Peaj which was sold at a higher rate. They a are expecting more Murikata Peaj within two to three weeks. It might help reduce the price slightly.
House wife Sumona Khatun at the kitchen market said she was thundered witnessing the abnormal price of her favorite spicy crop thinking the quality of cooking in home.
Upazila agriculture officer at Shailkupa Sanjoy Kumar Kundu when contacted said some farmers who have been selling Murikata Peaj are receiving good price. Harvesting of the same is expected t be started within a month, agriculture officer said.