Strange as it may seem, but a bumper harvest has left many onion farmers in Magura in tears. Forget profit, they are struggling to recover even their production cost this year. Falling prices of the kitchen staple across Bangladesh are forcing these poor farmers to go for distress sales in the absence of any warehousing option that helps prevent a price collapse in case of a bumper yield. An essential part of the diets of millions of Bangladeshis, rich and poor, onions add flavour and texture to every meal. Besides, the pungent bulb is a rich source of key daily nutrients. Also read: Kushtia onion farmers struggle with production cost amid falling price Every year, Bangladesh witnesses onion crises. However, this year, farmers in Magura are facing a problem of plenty -- basically more supplies and less demand.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday said that there is no need to panic over onion price as there is adequate stock.

Onion importers, who use Hili port for importing from India, say they are in trouble after Delhi’s suddenly banned the export of bulb.