Puthia (Rajshahi) Correspondent

Onion seed cultivation in Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi has increased. Farmers are showing interest in onion seed cultivation due to good and profitable prices.

As a result, onion seed cultivation has increased this year compared to last year. However, the amount of land under onion cultivation has decreased due to the digging of ponds in agricultural land in this upazila. This time, many farmers have started cultivating onion seed along with onion cultivation.

According to the agricultural office, the cultivation area last year was 70 hectares. The target for onion seed cultivation this year was 80 hectares. Onion seed cultivation was done on 75 hectares of land in this upazila. The maximum amount of onion seed was done in Shilmaria, Bhalluk Gachi and Jiupara unions. Several farmers said that most of the land where onion was cultivated has now turned into ponds. Due to which many farmers could not cultivate onion seed.

Md. Joynal Abedin said, "Many people in our area, including me, are producing onion seeds, which are known as black gold. We are hopeful that if the weather is favorable, the yield this year will exceed 120 kg per bigha." We are in constant contact with the Upazila Agriculture Department.

They are also constantly advising us on when to apply which medicine. They are also advising us to ensure proper pollination through hand pollination.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Smriti Rani Sarkar said that onion cultivation has increased this year compared to last year. Farmers had to buy seeds at a higher price before planting onion seeds, so this year farmers have cultivated onion seedlings to produce more seeds. If the weather is favorable, it is expected that the onion seeds will meet the needs of the Upazila and will be able to sell the seeds to other Upazilas or districts.

The Upazila Agriculture Office is providing overall technical support in seed production at the field level.