Dhaka, March 18 -- Traders have lost interest in importing onions from neighbouring India due to a recent dramatic fall in domestic prices of the kitchen staple.

The price fall in the local market coincides with the harvest season beginning across the country's onion-growing hubs such as Pabna and Faridpur.

Farm-level prices to district wholesale rates have fallen to Tk 32-50 per kg, while retail prices have plunged to Tk 55-70 per kg nationwide, according to the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM).

The prices represent a Tk 30-40 decline in both retail and wholesale levels within just a week.

"Importing onions will not be economically viable for the next two and a half months during this peak harvesting period for the seasonal...