At Dinajpur's Hili Land Port, Bangladesh, adverse weather conditions, including fluctuating temperatures and untimely rain, have led to the spoilage of hundreds of tonnes of imported onions from India. Importers and traders at the port report that since October 19, approximately 6,500 tonnes of onions have arrived in 209 trucks, with a daily average of 20-25 trucks. However, recent temperatures in Hakimpur upazila, Dinajpur, have exceeded the optimal storage range of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, contributing to the degradation of the onions.
Further exacerbating the situation, the area has experienced regular power cuts, high humidity, and rainfall, leading to approximately 35-40 percent of the onion stock rotting over the past week. The lack of adequate protection during transportation from India, particularly from rainfall, has also been identified as a contributing factor to the spoilage.
Local importers, facing significant losses, have resorted to selling the damaged onions at reduced rates of Tk 30 per kg. Abdus Salam, a local importer, mentioned that around 35 percent of his stock has rotted, forcing him to sell partially damaged onions at Tk 20-30 per kg and discard the rest. Despite these challenges, the best-preserved onions are being sold for Tk 85-95 per kg.
Power outages have limited the use of cooling fans in warehouses, essential for preserving the remaining stock, with power availability reduced to 10-12 hours daily. The recurrent nature of this issue during the rainy season has prompted calls for the establishment of a scientific storage facility at the port to mitigate future losses. Meanwhile, wholesale markets in Dinajpur are currently selling fresh Indian onions at Tk 120-130 per kg and slightly damaged ones at Tk 100-110, with local onions commanding the highest prices at Tk 140-150 per kg.
Source: The Daily Star