Jumbangla Desk: Due to the high price of onion and garlic seeds in Chalanbil area of Sirajganj during this year's full season, the farmers are disoriented. They say that one bigha of garlic cultivation is costing 30,000 rupees and onion 55,000 rupees. Due to the high price of seeds in the garlic-onion crop during the season, the production cost is burdening the farmers.
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On Saturday (16 November) Nadosaidpur of Tarash Upazila, Katabari and Hemnagar villages of Saguna Union, it was found that 3 maunds of good quality seeds are needed for garlic cultivation in one bigha of land. Its price is about 30 thousand rupees this year. But last year 22 thousand 500 rupees were spent. This time only the cost of seeds is increasing by 7 to 8 thousand taka per bigha. On the other hand, 8 maunds of good quality seeds are required for onion cultivation in one bigha of land. Its price this year is 55 thousand taka. 28 thousand rupees were spent last year. As such, this time, 26 thousand 400 taka is more for seeds. The farmers of this region are in danger due to the abnormal increase in the price of the seeds of these two crops during the peak season.
According to Upazila Agriculture Office sources, in the current season, the target of planting 750 hectares of garlic and 150 hectares of onion has been set in different areas of 8 unions of the upazila.
Farmers said that farmers benefited from bumper yields and good prices of garlic and onion without cultivation in chalanbil dominated areas. However, 70 to 80 percent of the seeds are purchased from the market. After the onion and garlic grow, the farmer selects some parts and keeps them as seeds. Store them at home for eight to nine months. They are being sold at high prices. A revolution took place in the cultivation of spice crops in the upazila. It also includes continuity of cultivation. However, the farmers are suffering from the high price of seeds during the season.
Babul Akhtar cultivated onion-garlic in Hemnagar village of Taras. He said that onion and garlic seeds are now being planted in advance in Chalanbil region. Till next February, after the cultivation, the harvest will start at home. He further informed that abnormal price of seeds has become a cause of hardship for small and marginal farmers.
Ujjal Hossain, another farmer of Nadosaidpur village, said that if only seeds cost so much money, then providing chemical fertilizers, pesticides, medicines, irrigation, agricultural laborers and other expenses is beyond the means of many.
Chanchkod, Kachikata, Naogaon, Handyal, Dhamaich Hat, Singra and Kaliganj are famous for the seeds of these two crops in Chalanbil region. Garlic seeds were sold at Tk 9,600 to Tk 10,000 per maund last Friday and Saturday. Last year it was 7 and a half thousand taka. This year, onion seeds are being sold at 6,800 taka, which was 3,500 taka last year.
Sukkur Ali, a garlic seed seller at Naogaon market, said that the price of onion and garlic is high this year. Seeds are always more expensive than edible onions and garlic. In the next 15 days to one month, the cultivation of these two crops will begin in full swing. Then the price may increase.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a farmer of Katabari village, said that in Chalanbil region, one bigha of land yields 38 to 40 maunds of garlic and 80 to 90 maunds of onion. Its price is also high. He said, the price is not so much when picking onion-garlic. Small and marginal farmers grow crops on loan and sell them at a low price as soon as they grow to repay the loan. When prices rise, the farmer is left with nothing.
Tarash Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said, currently the price of onion-garlic seeds is high in the market. However, if the crop is good, the farmer will be able to pay.
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He said that the market is being monitored by the upazila administration to keep the prices of all types of products including seeds fixed. If anyone charges more than the reasonable price, action will be taken against him.
Source and Image: RisingBD
