Onion farmers in Meherpur are facing mounting losses during the peak harvest season, as falling market prices and weak demand leave many unable to lift their crops from the fields.
Despite widespread cultivation and strong output, growers say they are not receiving prices that cover their production costs, raising fears of significant financial losses.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, onions have been cultivated on about 5,200 hectares in the district this season, with a production target of nearly 1,00,000 metric tonnes.
In Shibpur village of Mujibnagar upazila, fields are filled with mature onion crops, but farmers remain hesitant to harvest. Many are keeping the produce in the ground in the hope that prices will improve.
Farmer Abdul Malek said onions are currently selling at Tk700 to 800 per maund, which is insufficient to recover costs.
He said rising prices of fertiliser, seeds, pesticides and labour have pushed up expenses, leaving farmers in a difficult position.
Rafiqul Islam, another farmer, said a similar situation had occurred last year and warned that continued losses could discourage farmers from cultivating onions in future.
He also said imports during the harvest season would further weaken the position of local growers.
Saidur Rahman said farmers invest significant effort in production, but without fair prices, their work yields no benefit.
He said growers are now losing Tk2 to 3 per kilogram at prevailing market rates.
Nazrul Islam said onion imports should be halted during the harvesting period to protect local producers.
He said ensuring fair prices for domestically grown onions is essential for farmers’ survival.
Data from the Department of Agricultural Marketing show that the cost of producing onions is around 19 taka per kilogram, while farmers are selling at Tk17 to 18 per kilogram, resulting in losses on each unit sold.
Traders said the price fall is linked to excess supply in wholesale markets in Dhaka and Chattogram, which has also put pressure on them.
Agricultural Marketing Officer Tarikul Islam said the ministry has been requested to halt onion imports during the peak season.
He said a favourable decision is expected soon.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Sanjib Mridha said farmers have been advised to avoid irrigation for 10 to 15 days after harvesting, which would allow onions to remain in the field for a short period while they wait for better prices.
Despite good production, farmers in Meherpur are now grappling with uncertainty, driven by market imbalances and import policy concerns.
