The onion market remained volatile throughout 2024. At the beginning of the season, onions were sold at Tk35-40 per kg, which rose to Tk120-135 per kg a few months ago.
Currently, onions are being sold at Tk55-60 per kg, while production costs increased per kg range from Tk18-25, allowing farmers to make a profit.
This has encouraged farmers to cultivate onions this fiscal year, with fields in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia bustling with onion planting.
However, farmers claim that due to a syndicate among dealers, they are unable to obtain adequate supplies of non-urea fertilizers such as TSP, MOP, and DOP, even during peak planting season.
Some farmers who manage to secure fertilizers are forced to pay inflated prices, leading to severe difficulties and harassment.
According to the Agriculture Extension Department, the upazila has 18,240 hectares of farmland, with a target of cultivating onions on 4,890 hectares during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Farmers have already planted seedlings on 2,560 hectares. Motivated by steady profits throughout the year, the agriculture department anticipates farmers will exceed the cultivation target.
This year, the cost of land rent, seeds, fertilizers, and labor per hectare has risen to approximately Tk151,000.
During a visit to the fields of Joduboyra, Panti, Bagulat, and Chapra unions on December 30 and 31, groups of 15-20 people—including farmers, laborers, and university students—were seen planting seedlings.
Farmers said that labor shortages are a major issue during the peak planting season. Students often work in the fields, either on their own land or to earn extra money, receiving Tk400-500 per day.
Abu Badsha, a farmer from Laxmipur village in Joduboyra union, cultivated six and a half bighas of land last year and harvested around 450 maunds of onions. He sold onions at prices ranging from Tk40 to Tk135 per kg throughout the year.
This year, he has expanded his cultivation to ten bighas. However, he complained about not being able to purchase sufficient fertilizers despite paying higher prices.
Farmers from various villages accused dealers of withholding fertilizers and selling them at higher prices through a syndicate.
Mosaddeq Ali, another farmer from Bhardra village in Chapra Union, cultivated onions on three and a half bighas of land and said: “I went to sub-dealer Rezaul in Bashgram Bazaar to buy fertilizers, but the dealer refused to sell the fertilizers.”
“Later, I managed to obtain the fertilizers through a reseller associated with the dealer. However, I had to pay significantly inflated prices for the fertilizers. For a bag of TSP fertilizer, which officially costs Tk1,350, I paid Tk3,350,” he added.
He also said: “Similarly, I bought a bag of MOP fertilizer for Tk1,200 instead of its official price of Tk1,000, and another bag of MOP fertilizer cost me Tk1,440 instead of the standard Tk1,000.”
But sub-dealer Rezaul Islam of Bashgram denied the allegations, stating that fertilizer supplies are limited.
Shihab Uddin, manager of a BCIC fertilizer dealership in Joduboyra, admitted there was a shortage of government-supplied fertilizers.
He said: “Only 318 sacks of TSP were allocated this month for the union, despite a demand for around 3,000 sacks.”
However, he denied the allegation of selling fertilizers at inflated prices.
Kumarkhali Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Raisul Islam acknowledged the fertilizer shortage and said: ‘High onion prices have encouraged farmers to increase cultivation. Discussions with higher authorities are ongoing to address the issue.”
Upazila Executive Officer SM Mikail Islam assured that legal action would be taken against any dealer found to be involved in a syndicate.
He said: “Discussions are ongoing with farmers, agriculture officials, and BADC to resolve the crisis.”