Onion growers in Kushtia’s Kumarkhali are facing mounting difficulties despite strong market prices, as shortages of non-urea fertilisers and alleged price manipulation by dealers disrupt the peak planting season.
Onions fetched favourable prices throughout last year, selling at Tk35–40 per kg at the start of the season and peaking at Tk120–135 per kg a few months ago.
The crop is currently selling at Tk85–90 per kg, while production costs stand at Tk22–25 per kg, leaving farmers with a reasonable margin. Encouraged by the returns, growers expanded cultivation this fiscal year, with widespread seedling transplantation underway across the upazila.
Farmers, however, complain that a dealer syndicate has restricted supplies of non-urea fertilisers such as TSP, MOP and DAP. Many say sub-dealers and unscrupulous traders are charging Tk5–10 extra per kg, worsening the situation during a critical stage of crop growth.
According to the local agriculture extension office, Kumarkhali has 18,240 hectares of cultivable land. For the fiscal year 2025-26, the target for onion cultivation has been set at 4,920 hectares, with seedlings already transplanted on 3,690 hectares.
Officials expect the area under onion cultivation to exceed the target, driven by sustained good prices. Production costs this year are estimated at around Tk1,50,000 per hectare, covering land lease, seeds, fertiliser, tillage and crop care. Officials maintain that there is no overall fertiliser shortage.
Field visits to Jaduboyra, Panti, Bagulat, Nandolalpur and Chapra unions show groups of 20–30 people—farmers, labourers and students—working together to transplant seedlings. Locals say labour shortages are acute during the peak season, prompting students to work in the fields for Tk500 a day, either on family plots or to meet personal expenses.
In Panti union’s Bhaluka village, farmer Laltu Ali Sheikh said good prices over the past year prompted many to switch to onion cultivation. He has planted seedlings on three bighas but could not apply fertiliser in adequate quantities due to limited availability.
Touhidul Islam of Bhaluka Purbo Para village said he is cultivating onions on two bighas but dealers are supplying only 10–20 kg at regulated prices after making farmers queue. Sub-dealers, he added, sell fertiliser in bulk at Tk500–700 more per bag.
Fearing future supply disruptions, he declined to name the sub-dealers, alleging that dealers are using them to sell fertiliser at inflated prices.
Abu Badsha of Baroichara village under Jaduboyra Union said he has cultivated onions on around 13 bighas this season. He estimated costs at Tk40,000–50,000 per bigha for land lease, cultivation, transplantation and care, with yields of 60–70 maunds per bigha, making onion farming profitable.
He alleged, however, that dealers supply no more than 10 kg of fertiliser per bigha, forcing farmers to buy from other sources at Tk200–300 extra per bag.
Akkas Ali Mollah of Laxmipur village said fertiliser shortages have persisted for several years, pushing up costs and leaving farmers in severe distress. He urged swift government intervention.
Market sources said TSP fertiliser priced at Tk1,350 per bag is selling for Tk1,850–2,000, DAP priced at Tk1,050 is selling for Tk1,450–1,600, and MOP priced at Tk1,000 is selling for Tk1,150–1,200 in the sub-dealer network and open market.
Kushtia BCIC Fertiliser Dealers’ Association President Khondaker Abdul Gaffar acknowledged farmers’ complaints, saying the government is not supplying fertiliser in line with demand despite repeated contact with the ministry. He denied allegations of overpricing by dealers and blamed sub-dealers and dishonest traders for collecting fertiliser from different sources and selling it at higher prices.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Raisul Islam rejected claims of a shortage, saying fertiliser is being sold at regulated prices through queues. He admitted that some traders were charging extra but said mobile courts had fined them.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Akhter said the administration would investigate any syndication by dealers and take legal action if proven. She added that field-level monitoring is underway to ensure farmers receive fertiliser at government rates and in line with demand.
