FARIDPUR, Feb 19: Pata Piyaz (bunching onion) has been developed successfully in Bangladesh. Researchers say this type of onion is rich in nutritional value.
Faridpur Spice Research sub-station produces bunching onion (BARI Pata Piyaz-1) seeds, which have received a lot of response.
Bunching onion, also called Welsh onion, is an important spice crop which can be cultivated throughout the year.
It is a very popular spice in many Asian countries. Bunching onions are used as an alternative to onion. Besides, it is rich in medicinal qualities.
Cultivation of Pata Piyaz has been taken to the farmers level. Increased onion cultivation will reduce price and shortage, as well, officials said. The seeds produced will be distributed among 120 farmers.
Leaf onion seeds are completely different than ordinary onion seeds. Normal onion seeds can be harvested in the first week of April. The bunching onion seeds are harvested from November to February, step by step.
Bunching onion do not come out at once. It takes some time and comes step by step. The work of collecting bunching onion seeds is now underway.
The farmers of the spice sub-centre are now busy working on the field for raising and harvesting seeds.
Faridpur Spice Research Sub-Centre officials said bunching onions can meet the demand all year round and be cultivated in homesteads and rooftop terraces. Once bunching onion is cultivated, the leaves can be cut and eaten throughout the year.
As an alternative to onion, the leaves can be used in various dishes. Bunching onions can also be eaten as vegetable and salad. The leaves can be collected from two months after planting the seedlings. If the seeds are sown in March, the leaves can be harvested three to four times by November.
Farmers said, “If bunching onion is cultivated all year long, the onion deficit will be filled. We are now taking care of onion seeds and collecting seeds from the fields.”
Once the leaves are planted onions can be eaten throughout the year. If the bunching onion cultivation grows, there will be no shortage of onion.
According to sources in Faridpur Spice Research Centre, this type of onion can help improve eyesight, cure headaches, sore throats, cold diseases and even heart attack.
Leaf onions can be grown on all types of soil. However, sandy loam gives good yield - some 800 to 1,000 kg of seeds are available per hectare.
Scientific Officer, Sub-centre of Spice Research, Faridpur Mushfiqur Rahman said this year we have grown onion seeds. We have trained 120 cultivators by hand to increase leaf onion cultivation. Through them I am working to increase the cultivation of bunching onions through the display of onion seeds. It contains potent antioxidants that help in the formation of our cells.
Karthik Chandra Chakraborty, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension, Faridpur Kharmabari, said that the seeds of bunching onion named Bari pata piyaj-1 are an excellent innovation. It can be produced year-round. It can be eaten as onion or as salad. From this year we will be setting up an exhibition of Bari Pata Piyaz-1 in Faridpur.