New onions sold by the farmer for 60 Taka are becoming 100 Taka as soon as they change hands (due to middlemen/traders).

The highest onion production in the country occurs in Santhia and Sujanagar of Pabna. This current season, Sumit Mandal, a farmer in Santhia, received about 60 Taka per kilogram for selling new ‘Murikata’ onions in the wholesale market.

After changing hands just once, the same onions are being sold by wholesale traders for 75-80 Taka. Retailers buy them from the wholesalers and sell them for 90-100 Taka. By the time those onions reach the capital (Dhaka), the price jumps to 120 Taka.

Such a scenario was observed on Monday (December 8) at Karamja Chaturhat, the largest onion market in Santhia and Sujanagar Upazilas. Onions are being sold at high prices at the start of the season.

Traders are buying from farmers at 60 Taka and selling at nearly double the price. While the farmers’ profit is low, the intermediary traders (middlemen) are pocketing the majority of the profit. The price increases every time the ownership changes. This is cheating the common buyers.

Talking to local buyers and farmers revealed that ‘Murikata’ onions have been selling in the local market for two weeks. The price was higher initially, but is now trending downwards. Following news of imports, the price has dropped by at least 20 Taka per kilogram in the last two days. The ‘Murikata’ that sold for 100-110 Taka last week is now selling for 90-100 Taka. Alongside this, old domestic onions are selling at 140 Taka per kilogram.

According to farmers, wholesalers, and retailers, ‘Murikata’ onions are typically harvested and come to the market from the beginning of December until the start of January. They are planted in the first week of October.

The crop is ready for harvest within 45 to 60 days. Due to favorable weather and high market prices this year, they started coming to the market from the last week of November. Its season will last for the next two weeks. Prices were high initially this time, but they dropped in the last two days following news of imports.

The planting of ‘Chara Kata’ (transplanted) onions has already begun. The market will remain somewhat volatile for the next one to one-and-a-half months, until the ‘Chara Kata’ harvest begins. ‘Chara Kata’ will start to be harvested late in January and will fully enter the market in February. The market will normalize then. The ‘Chara Kata’ onion is primarily what meets the needs of the country’s population and can be stored throughout the year.