RANGPUR, Feb 12: The farming of onion has increased significantly in Rangpur agriculture region during this current season.
According to sources unlike many other crops soaring price of onion as well as its huge demand has encouraged the growers to expand its farming this season across the region.
The peasants of the region cultivated onion with great optimism this season, as they are witnessing its high price this season.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said that onion was cultivated on around 7,331 hectares of land in five districts under the agriculture region this season which is some 700 hectares higher than the target. The districts are: Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.
Earlier, the growers of the region never thought of farming onion abundantly but its higher price in recent times has ushered in a new hope to them and they have become enthusiastic of expanding the farming of the spicy crop, sources said.
Onion is being cultivated aplenty at different areas including in char areas of the region this year and the growers are expecting huge profit from its sale in market after harvest.
Apon Mia, a grower of Char Nazirdaho at Kawnia upazila in Rangpur district told FE that he has cultivated onion on 50 decimals of land this season with the optimism to earn handsome profit. The present price of the crop is really encouraging, he added.
The country is spending large foreign exchange every year for importing different varieties of spicy crops including onion. But a large quantity of it can be grown in the region, if adequate measures are taken, experts maintained.
DAE sources said the department has taken adequate measures to increase the farming and production of almost all varieties of spicy crops including onion in order to decrease dependency on import. The department has been providing the growers with necessary inputs to boost the farming of spicy crops, sources added.
