In Faridpur, one of the biggest onion producers in Bangladesh, markets are witnessing a drop in prices of the vegetable with the arrival of new harvests.
At various markets in Faridpur town and surrounding areas, the new onion crop is priced between Tk120 and Tk130 per kg, compared to Tk160 to Tk170 for the older stock.
Retailers noted a drop of Tk30 to Tk40 per kg for new onions and Tk20 to Tk30 for old ones. Just days earlier, new onions were selling at Tk145 to Tk150 per kg, while the older stock fetched around Tk200 per kg.
Anowar Hossain, an official at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur Sadar upazila, explained that onion harvesting was initially delayed due to waterlogging caused by Cyclone Michaung. However, farmers have now partially resumed harvesting as the water recedes.
Anowar also accused unscrupulous businessmen of manipulating onion prices following an export ban by neighbouring India.
Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of Faridpur DAE, said the district primarily produces three onion varieties: winter murikta, and summer hali and dana, with murikta being the most widely cultivated. This season, murikta onions were planted on approximately 5,500 hectares of land, aiming for a production of 100,000 tons.
