National Desk :
The Regional Spices Research Center, Gazipur of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has arranged a farmer’s Field Day on year-round cultivable BARI Onion-5 today (Tuesday, February 16, 2021). The field day titled ‘onion seed and bulb production technology’ has arranged with the Funding of ‘Strengthening of Spices Crop Research in Bangladesh’. A total of 70 farmers participated at the field day, says a press release.
BARI Director General Dr. Md. Nazirul Islam inaugurated the field day as chief guest in the morning. Chief Scientific Officer of Regional Spices Research Centre, Gazipur Dr. Muhammad Shahiduzzaman presided over the function while BARI Director (Support & Services) Dr. S. M. Sharifuzzaman, Director (Tuber Crops) Dr. Kabita Anju-Man-Ara, Director (Research) Dr. Md. Tariqul Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of OFRD Division Dr. M. Akkas Ali, Chief Scientific Officer of Soil Science Division Dr. Sohela Akhter, Principal Scientific Officer of the Spices Research Center and Project Director Dr. Shailendra Nath Majumdar were present as special guests. Senior Scientific Officer of the Regional Spices Research Center, Gazipur Dr. Md. Iqbal Haque Swapan conducted the function while Senior Scientific Officer of the Regional Spices Research Center, Gazipur Dr. Mohd. Masudul Haque gave the welcome address. Scientists and officers from various division of BARI were also present on the occasion.
Speakers at the Field Day told the farmers, the current annual demand of onion in the country is 3.5 million metric tons while the total production of onion in our country is about 26 lakh metric tons. As a result, about 1 million metric tons of onions have to be imported from different countries of the world including India every year. However, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute has the technology to cultivate onions all year round. And that is BARI Onion-5.
BARI Invented BARI Onion-5 can be cultivated all year round and its production is 2-3 times higher than other onion varieties. While the production of other varieties of onion is 25-30 maunds per bigha, the production of Bari Onion-5 is 75-80 maunds. Therefore, cultivating BARI Onion-5, which can be cultivated throughout the year, will benefit the farmers as well as meet the onion shortage in the country.
