Photo : BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, May 8, 2025 (BSS) - A record onion production and good market price have pleased farmers this year in all five districts of the Rangpur agricultural region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said that in the recently concluded 2024-2025 Rabi season, farmers produced 1,19,811 tonnes of onions by cultivating it on 10,223 hectares of land in the region. 

Earlier, in the last 2023-2024 Rabi season, farmers produced 1,18,491 tonnes of onions from 10,006 hectares of land and 1,04,263 tonnes from 8,834 hectares of land in the previous 2023-2024 Rabi season.

In the just-ended Rabi season, farmers produced 1,19,811 tonnes of onions, which is 1,320 tonnes and 15,548 tonnes more than the production of 1,18,491 tonnes and 1,04,263 tonnes of the spicy crop in the previous two seasons respectively. 
 
Market sources said that the price of locally produced onions in the local market is now between Taka 55 and Taka 60 per kg. 
 
As a result of various practical steps taken by the interim government to meet the local demand for onions on the path to achieving self-reliance, the cultivation and production of spicy crops have increased in the Rangpur region this season.

Agriculture expert Md. Shafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the DAE, Rangpur region, told BSS that a record target of 1,21,151 tonnes of onion production from 10,149 hectares of land was set in this region for the 2024-2025 Rabi season. 
 
However, farmers have finally cultivated onion on 10,223 hectares of land, exceeding the set cultivation target in the region by 74 hectares. 
 
The DAE, Spices Research Institute and other agriculture-related organizations are working relentlessly to further increase onion production to meet local demand and achieve self-reliance.
 
"After finishing harvesting onions on 10,223 hectares of land last week, enthusiastic farmers have finally produced 1,19,811 tonnes of the spicy crop, with an average yield rate of 11.72 tonnes per hectare," said Shafiqul Islam. 

Deputy Director of the Burirhat Horticulture Center of the DAE in Rangpur, Dr Md Abu Sayem said that the distribution of free quality onion seeds and fertilizers among farmers as government incentives encouraged them to cultivate onions on more land this season. 
 
"Despite achieving a bumper production of onion this time, there is a bright prospect of further increasing its production in this region by ensuring proper crop diversification and providing more training and latest technology to farmers," he added.
   
Md. Hafizur Rahman, a vegetable trader at Rangpur City Market, told BSS today that farmers are selling freshly harvested local variety onions to wholesalers at Taka 1,920 to Taka 2,200 per maund (per 40 kg). 

Retailers are buying onions from wholesalers at Taka 2,100 to Taka 2,300 per maund. 

"Finally, retailers are currently selling locally produced onions in local markets to consumers at rates between Taka 55 and Taka 60 depending on the size and quality," Hafizur added. 

Talking to BSS, farmers Anwar Hossain, Md Nuruzzaman, Farhad Hossain and Nur Islam from different villages of Sadar, Badarganj and Kawnia upazilas of Rangpur said that the bumper onion yield and good prices this season have made them happy.