Onion imports thru land ports mark sharp fall
Imports of Indian onions through land ports witnessed a drastic fall within the last seven days because of the increased supply of the local variety.
Markets in most districts are now flooded with local onions and the consumers also choose the local produce to the Indian types as a result of better flavour.
Onion imports through different channels, like the Hili land port of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur, Bhomra port in Satkhira and Sonamasjid port in Chapainawabganj, resumed after January 1 when the three-and-a-half-month ban imposed by India found an end.
Bangladesh has to import around 10 lakh tonnes of onions a year. As well, locally generated onions also strike markets in the united states.
Onion imports through the Hili territory port fell as traders are not purchasing up to they used to before, said Harun Ur Rashid, president of the port's association of importers and exporters.
Most imported onions got stuck in stores, he said, adding that more individuals are now purchasing the local variety in a fresh trend.
In Dinajpur, the retail price of onion hovers around Tk 32 per kilogramme (kg) while every 5 kilogrammes can be purchased at Tk 130 at wholesale markets.
Throughout a visit to three different markets in Dinajpur village on Sunday, This correspondent identified two traders at Bahadurbazar retailing Indian onions for Tk 30 per kg and the Egyptian range at Tk 20 every kg.
However, not really a single buyer for these onions was seen during a one-hour stay at the area.
Zero imported onion was noticed at Railbazar haat but instead, it had been also flooded with hometown onions.
Akhtar Hossain, a good wholesaler, said he stopped purchasing Indian onions yesterday as consumers seem to be unwilling to use the imported ones.
"Almost 95 per cent of the individuals are now investing in locally produced onion," he added.
The local variety bears similar prices in most districts, including Rangpur, Joypurhat and Gaibandha.
In Rangpur, a kilogramme of native onion is designed for Tk 35.
As a result, onion imports through territory ports saw a sharp fall within the last week, said Sohrab Hossain, pr officer of Hili-Panama Port Link, operator of the Hili territory port.
Imports also witnessed a sharp decline in the Sonamasjid port found in Chapainawabganj.
"Earlier, 80 trucks of Indian onion used to enter Bangladesh on average each day but only three trucks carrying 70 tonnes of onion came through the port last Thursday and Saturday," explained Mainul Islam, manager of the port.
Arafat Hossain, president of the C&F Agents' Association of Bhomra port in Satkhira, told The Daily Star that in Sunday afternoon, just a sole truck with Indian onions moved at night port within the last three days.
"Import declined largely within the last couple of days," he said.
In Barishal, onion prices are hovering between Tk 25 to Tk 28 per kg according to their quality, said SM Hasan Sarwar, district advertising officer beneath the Department of Agricultural Extension in Barishal.
"Simply no Indian onion is situated in Barishal's market," he added.
