Success in summer onion cultivation

Farmers are hoping for a good harvest by planting summer onions for the first time in Padma Char in Lalpur, Natore. After two floods, farmers in Padma Char have planted summer onions in their land with the advice and encouragement of the local agriculture department.

Seeing the structure of the onions, there is a glimmer of happiness on the faces of farmers hoping for a good harvest. Farmers in the char area are expressing interest in summer onion cultivation for various reasons, including receiving fertilizer, seeds and incentive money from the government and the good market price of these onions cultivated out of season.

Sharif Ali, an onion farmer in Bilmari Char, Lalpur, has cultivated summer onions on 8 bighas of land in Padma Char. According to farmer Sharif Ali, the shape and structure of the onions have improved due to the fertile land mixed with alluvial soil in the char and the good weather. He is hoping for a good harvest. The big challenge is seedling production. There is more rain in summer. For this reason, seedlings do not grow easily. A lot of time is wasted. However, his seedlings have grown well. He spent Tk 40 to 50 thousand on cultivating onions on one bigha of land. He expressed hope that he would make a profit as he has the potential to get 100 to 120 maunds of onions from one bigha of land.

On the spot, it was seen that local farmers cultivate various crops on about 2,500 hectares of land in the Padma River char. Some on their own land, while others cultivate various crops including vegetables and sugarcane on leased land. Despite two floods this season, many have planted summer onions for the first time in the Padma char with the advice and assistance of the local agriculture department.

An onion farmer named Kahar Siddique said that summer onions are more profitable than winter onions. The price and demand for these onions are better. He will also cultivate these onions in the future. He seeks government support for this.

Lalpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Preet Kumar Hor said, for the first time in the upazila, about 150 farmers have been encouraged to cultivate summer onions. Especially, good yields are expected by cultivating these onions in the alluvial land of the Padma char.

Farmers in the char area are expressing interest in cultivating summer onions for various reasons, including getting fertilizer, seeds and incentive money from the government and the good market price of these onions cultivated out of season. If summer onion cultivation increases in Lalpur, it will not only enrich the farmers, but also keep the market under control and consumers will not have to buy onions at high prices, said the officer.

ZH