Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque here on Monday said the price of onion is not marking any fall as there is a shortage of the bulb after farmers harvested young onions for more profits following an export ban by India.

He made the remarks while speaking at a seminar titled organised by National Agriculture Training Academy (NATA).

The minister said farmers could not harvest onions last year due to unusual rain which also led to an onion crisis in the country.

He also underscored the need for mechanising and commercialising the agriculture so that farmers can be benefitted.

Traders hiked the price of the bulb citing a supply crunch following drizzles in many parts of the country for a few days since Thursday.

The local variety of the essential kitchen item was selling at Tk 180-200 per kg and the imported one at Tk 100-120 a kg at the retail market respectively on Monday.

One month ago, the local onion sold at Tk 240-250 per kg while the imported one at Tk 90-210, the TCB data showed.

The price came down as low as Tk 100 and Tk 50 for the two varieties respectively after the local bulb and imported one hit the market.

But it started soaring again after light rain hit the country from Thursday and reached Tk 200 a kg.