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The onion farmers of the district have expressed much satisfaction as the price of the agricultural produce is fairly good in the market this year.
In the first phase, 'Mulkata' or 'Kandak' onion has come to the market. In the second phase, 'Hali' onion will come to the market within a few days, they said.
They expect they will get the Hali onion price similar to Mulkata's.
Agriculture officials said Mulkata onion cultivation has increased productivity on 120 hectares this year compared to last season.
Because of higher prices of Mulkata onion, Hali onion cultivation has exceeded the production target, they added.
The cultivation of Hali onion has been expanded by 8,475 hectares this season compared to last year's.
Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Pabna said a total of 778,818 tonnes onion production target has been set on 61,895 hectares of land this year.
Hali onion has been cultivated on 53,275 hectares of land with a production target of 760,000 tonnes and Mulkata onion on 8,620 hectares with a production target of 18,818 tonnes. Agriculture officials said that due to the high price of Mulkata onion, the onion cultivation target is being exceeded.
Some 8,475 hectares of Hali onion cultivation has increased this season compared to last year. Besides, Hali onion cultivation on 8,475 hectares of land has also increased this season.
Pabna DAE Deputy Director Dr Jamal Uddin said the annual production of onions in the country is about 2,500,000 tonnes.
Dr Md Jamal Uddin said, "With the increase in the demand for onion in the country, the production is also increasing. Farmers are very excited as onion prices are higher this year. That's why farmers have cultivated more onions on about 9,000 hectares of land this year than last year. If the weather is favourable, yield will also be good."
The farmers can profit from Hali onion. DAE workers are helping farmers to increase onion production, he added.
About 800,000 tonnes is produced in Pabna district alone which is the one-third of the total production.
Among these, the country's highest quantity of onion is produced is Sujanagar, Santhia and Bera upazilas of Pabna. Some 550,000 tonnes of onion is produced here.
Agriculture officials said farmers grow onions in two ways -- Mulkata and Hali methods. Mulkata onion is cultivated in October-November and Hali in December-January.