Rajshahi, Sept 18 (V7N) – Farmers in Rajshahi will now be able to store onions for six to eight months at home using an "Air Flow Machine," according to agricultural officials. The technology is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, allow growers to sell their produce at favorable times, and increase their profits.

Under the program, 170 Air Flow Machines will be distributed to farmers in Rajshahi. Each unit can store 200 to 250 maunds of onions in a 10-by-6-foot room. The machine runs on electricity, requiring no additional costs. So far, 180 onion farmers have received training on proper usage. Officials said 21,375 hectares of land in Rajshahi were used for onion cultivation this year.

Currently, most farmers store onions at home, but the produce spoils quickly, forcing them to sell at low prices. The Air Flow Machine will help preserve both quality and color of onions for a longer period.

The initiative is funded by the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). A three-day farmer training program was recently held at the Rajshahi DAE hall, attended by onion growers from across the district.

Speaking as chief guest, Dr. Azizur Rahman, Additional Director of DAE, Rajshahi region, said that 3,700 Air Flow Machines will be distributed across 16 major onion-producing districts. He added that this project would not only reduce dependence on imports but also make Bangladesh self-sufficient in onion production.

Farmers will build small storage rooms at their homes, while the project will provide Tk 27,000 directly to their bank accounts for purchasing machines and building storage platforms. Farmers can select their preferred suppliers from among the approved companies.

According to officials, Bangladesh produces around 350 lakh metric tons of onions annually. However, 1 to 12 lakh tons are lost each year due to lack of proper storage, leaving only 25 to 28 lakh tons for use. Despite surplus production, Bangladesh still imports 4 to 7 lakh tons annually to meet demand. Experts believe that widespread use of Air Flow Machines could eliminate the need for imports and stabilize onion markets.

Local farmer Saiful Islam of Durgapur welcomed the initiative but noted that the technology has not yet been tested on a large scale. "If it prevents rotting and extends storage time as promised, it will be very helpful for us," he said.

The training event was chaired by Rajshahi DAE Deputy Director Ms. Umme Salma, with Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman, Project Director, delivering the welcome address. Representatives from eight Air Flow Machine manufacturing companies also participated.

END/MRA/SMA/