A sharp fall in onion prices has left thousands of farmers in Pabna, one of Bangladesh’s major onion-producing districts, fearing financial losses despite a bumper harvest this season.
Wholesale onions are currently selling for Tk900-1,000 per maund in local markets, down from Tk1,200-1,300 a month ago. Retail prices have also declined to around Tk30 per kilogram from Tk35-40 during the same period.
Traders attribute the price slump to abundant production and an influx of onions into markets as farmers, lacking adequate storage facilities, are being forced to sell their produce before it spoils.
Momin Hossain, a wholesale trader at Pabna’s Boro Bazar, said onions were now selling at Tk900-1,000 per maund. Retailer Shafiqul Islam said the vegetable was being sold at Tk30 per kilogram, compared with Tk35-40 a month earlier.
Hasu Pramanik, an onion grower from Bhadra village in Chatmohar Upazila, said he cultivated onions on two bighas of land. He sold part of his harvest a month ago at Tk1,200-1,300 per maund but is now receiving only Tk900-1,000.
He fears the current prices may not even cover his production costs.
Abdul Latif, a farmer from Konabaria village in Santhia Upazila, said he sold onions for Tk900 per maund at the Boyailmari market on Monday.
“At this price, I am incurring losses,” he said, adding that he had no option but to sell because he could not store the onions any longer. He also alleged that traders had taken advantage of the oversupply by lowering purchase prices.
Rafiul Islam, additional deputy director (Crops) at the Department of Agricultural Extension in Pabna, said the district had enjoyed a bumper onion harvest this year.
“Not every farmer has access to proper storage facilities. As many growers are selling their onions simultaneously, market supply has increased significantly, leading to lower prices,” he said.
He said more than 1,00,000 farmers cultivate onions in the district, but only about 2,500 have been brought under improved onion storage systems. Most growers store onions using traditional methods and are forced to sell once the produce begins to deteriorate.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, onions were cultivated on 54,335 hectares in Pabna this year against a target of 53,750 hectares.
Production reached 995,367 tonnes, substantially exceeding the target of 845,473 tonnes.
