PABNA, May 23, 2023 (BSS) - Agriculture Minister and Awami League (AL) 
Presidium Member Dr Md Abdur Razzaque today said the government will take 
decision to import onions considering the interests of all, specially farmers 
and consumers, within a few days.

"The decision to import onions will be taken considering the interests of all 
including farmers and consumers within a few days," he said while 
inaugurating the "domestic model onion and garlic storage house" at Purba 
Banoram under Santhia upazila here.

The minister added: "If onions can be preserved perfectly . . . The existing 
onions crisis will be removed and politics related to onions will be stopped 
subsequently." 

Noting that the country produces more onions than the demand but due to one-
third of the production being wasted which leading a shortage, he said the 
existing onion prices are abnormal and various kinds of politics are started 
with regard to this.

The minister said, "The onions are a very perishable crop. It's hard to keep 
up. Onions cannot be stored. It dries and rots. So, the farmers usually sell 
onions at low prices during the season. At the end of the season, the onion 
market is in the hands of importers, traders and syndicates."

Considering all these adverse situations, Razzaque said the authorities 
concerned launched this experimental onion storage room, where onions can be 
stored for 4-5 months. 

"If it is become successful, there will be no onion shortage in the country . 
. . It will not necessary to import, rather it can be exported," he 
mentioned.

The minister said a letter has been sent to the ministry of power to consider 
subsidizing the electricity used in onion conservation model houses or 
agriculture sector.

Deputy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Advocate Md Shamsul Hoque Tuku, MP, 
Secretary of Agriculture Ministry Wahida Akhter, Director General (DG) of 
Agriculture Marketing Directorate Md Masud Karim, DG of Agriculture Extension 
Department Badal Chandra Biswas, DG of Rice Research Institute Shahjahan 
Kabir and DG of Atomic Agriculture Research Institute Mirza Mofazzal Islam 
,among others, were present on the occasion.