Farmers see light of hope in onion cultivation in the Yamuna Char

The vast sandy plains of the Yamuna River in Sariakandi, Bogra are now green. As far as the eye can see, the only thing that attracts attention is onion cultivation. Due to the onion crisis and high prices for several years, farmers in the Char area are becoming more interested in onion cultivation. The weather is favorable, there are few diseases and pests. Unless there is a major natural disaster, the Char farmers are hoping for a bumper harvest.

It is known that every year, a lot of silt accumulates in the Char during the heavy monsoon. That silt serves as fertilizer in the onion fields. Onion cultivation does not require much fertilizer. As onions are sold at high prices in the market due to the onion crisis, the Char farmers are more interested in onion cultivation than other crops. Due to favorable weather and few diseases and pests, the Char farmers are hoping for a bumper harvest of onions this time. Farmers said that onion cultivation in char will increase further if fair market price is assured.

According to the Sariakandi Agriculture Office, the target for onion production in the upazila this season has been set at 1,600 hectares of land. So far, onion has been planted in 1,610 hectares of land. 10 hectares have been produced from tubers. The yield has been 14 metric tons per hectare.

On going to the char in Dhap of the upazila, it was seen that Taher Pramanik is spending his time busy taking care of onions in the hope of becoming financially self-reliant. He has cultivated onions on 10 bighas of land that has been raised on char.

He said, I have replanted onions on 10 bighas of land, so far I have spent more than 2 lakh taka. I hope that if God does not send any disaster, I will get 60 to 70 maunds of onion per bigha. If the yield is good, I can get up to 100 maunds. After planting onions, the Upazila Agriculture Office gave me advice. I am continuing to take care of it according to that advice. It is getting good results. If the weather is favorable, I expect to get 600 to 700 maunds of onions. If the market price is good, I will make a profit of 6 to 7 lakh taka excluding expenses.

Sariakandi Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Ali Jinnah knows that earlier, there was no much cultivation in the char land. Now various types of crops are growing there. Under our promotion, onion seeds have been distributed to 20 farmers in this upazila. This season, the target for onion production in the upazila has been set at 1600 hectares of land. So far, onions have been planted on 1610 hectares of land. 10 hectares have been produced from tubers. The yield has been 14 metric tons per hectare.