Farmers in Faridpur are having a busy time taking care of onion seeds planted on 1,854 hectares of land with the aim of meeting local demand for the vegetable.
The district’s Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) hopes for a turnover of at least Tk500 crore from the crop in the current season.
Faridpur has long been renowned for onion cultivation, positioned as the second-largest onion-producing region in the country.
After jute, farmers there focus on paddy and onion farming due to the fertile soil, which is highly suitable for these crops.
Over the past decade, the district has witnessed a bumper yield of onion seeds, covering more than 50% of the country’s total demand for government-certified onion
seeds.
The huge demand for the seeds has been playing a significant role in improving the livelihoods of local farmers, who call the seeds “black gold” due to their high economic value.
In Faridpur Sadar, Boalmari, Bhanga, Madhukhali and Sadarpur upazilas, large swathes of farmlands are now covered with white onion blossoms.
A visit to fields in Ambikapur union under Faridpur Sadar upazila revealed that farmers and labourers were meticulously hand-pollinating the flowers due to a decline in bee populations, with others in weeding and applying pesticides to prevent rot.
Shaheda Begum and Lovely Parvin, two farmers from Ambikapur, said growing "black gold" is like caring for a child.
The onion cultivation begins in November-December, with harvesting taking place in April-May.
The seeds are then preserved for a year before being planted and sold in the following season.
During the onion seed season, labourers from different parts of the country come to the district to work in the fields.
Anwar from Pabna, Abdur Rahman Paramanik from Kushtia and several others said they have been migrating to Faridpur for over a decade to earn their livelihood through onion seed farming.
“We work tirelessly to ensure high-quality seed production. When yields are good, both farmers and workers benefit financially,” they said.
