Cultivation of onion seeds, popularly known as ‘black gold’, has significantly increased in Panchagarh compared to last year.
Department of Agricultural Extension noted a shift in varieties this year; while Taheripuri and Faridpuri were popular last season, farmers are now primarily growing Hybrid and Rani-1 varieties.
Atwari Upazila Agriculture Officer Mostaq Ahmed stated that they have set a production target of 45 metric tonnes for the season. It is estimated that the marketing of these seeds could generate a trade volume of around Tk 7 crores.
He said the office provides regular advice and technological assistance to encourage farmers to expand their acreage. He added that further incentivising farmers would reduce the country’s dependence on imported onion seeds and could potentially open doors for future exports.
According to official data, onion seeds have been sown on 30 hectares of land across the district this season, rising from 21 hectares in the previous year. While the cultivation has spread through various areas of the district’s five upazilas, more than half of the farming is concentrated within Atwari Upazila.
When our correspondent visited, the fields were buzzing with activity as both male and female labourers participated in manual pollination to ensure high yields. Farmers reported that they perform the hand-pollination process daily between 11am and 4pm under the sun to guarantee better results.
Rabiul Islam, a farmer from the Raniganj area in Atwari Upazila, mentioned that he has been involved in this sector for the past three years. “I made a profit in the first year but suffered some losses last year. This year, I have planted improved varieties on two acres of land, spending about Tk8 lakh so far, and if the market remains stable, I hope to see double the profit.”
This success has inspired other local cultivators, including Nazrul Islam, who plans to incorporate onion seeds into his crop rotation next season after witnessing the healthy growth in neighbouring fields.
Selina Begum shared that working on these plantations provides a vital source of additional income. “About 10 to 15 of us work together from morning until afternoon,” she remarked, noting that they engage in hand-pollination specifically because it boosts production.
