Local farmers in the Kurigram district are excited about the bountiful summer onion harvest and favourable market prices. This season's remarkable profitability has been contributed by the cultivation success of the N-53 variety which contains rich test and high demand in the local markets.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Kurigram played a vital role in this success by giving the farmers all the necessary resources. The department provided essential resources, including one kg of N-53 onion seeds, 20 kg of fertilisers (MoP and DAP), other materials and cash Tk2,000 for labour costs on per bigha of land. The support was part of a government initiative that has benefitted around 800 farmers in the district this year.

After visiting different onion fields in Bhogdanga union of Kurigram Sadar upazila, the Daily Sun correspondent saw that the onion farmers were satisfied to get bumper yields and fair prices of the N-53 variety.
Onion farmer Islam Mia, 60, of Koikuri village of the Bhogdanga union said, “First ever I planted onion saplings in the first week of January on one bigha of land. I sowed the seeds in the first week of December to prepare the saplings. The onions were harvested in the third week of April this year. I got a bumper yield of N-53 variety onion, even though it was cultivated as a companion crop with other crops.”
Another farmer Mofijul Islam, 45, of Jugipara village of the Bhogdanga union said, “I cultivated onion of N-53 variety on one bigha of land after taking incentive from the agriculture department this year. I got a bumper yield of onion, even though I was forced to advance harvest for next crop cultivation.”
Around seven pieces of N-53 variety onions become one kilogram in weight while around 25 pieces of local variety are needed for one kilogram, he added.
“I got production about 50 maunds, where I did all the necessary works myself in the field like a labourer. As a result, the total production is my profit. I have sold the onion at Tk1,400 to Tk2,100 per maund,” Mofijul said.  
Local DAE officials said the department has taken 2,350 hectares of land as the target of onion cultivation in the district this year and the farmers have cultivated 2,505 hectares of land. Last year, farmers here cultivated onions on 2,110 hectares of land.
Biplob Kumar Mohanta, former deputy director (DD) of Kurigram DAE, emphasised the importance of a well-prepared seedbed in successful summer onion cultivation. “First ever we provided seeds, fertilisers and cash as an incentive to 800 farmers this year which will be extended to 1,000 farmers next year. Besides, the department provided polythene covers and fungicides to protect the seedbeds from rain and decomposition,” the DD added.
“N-53 variety onion delivers unique taste to curry and other food items which can be crucial during crisis moments when shortage of onion occurs in the local markets. But the variety is kept normally in the store for up to three months. If the cultivation of N-53 onions expands nationwide, we can reduce our reliance on onion import saving foreign currencies,” the DD said.