Now coming onion substitute 'Chive'!

The Dhaka Times Desk The controversy over onions has been going on for the past one month. The price of onion of 30 taka per kg went up by about three hundred taka. Although in the last two days, it has come down again between 130 or 150 taka. This time coming as an alternative idea of onion 'chive'!

When the price of onion has reached an unbridled state, the scientists of Spice Research Center of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute of Gazipur are going to bring success in cultivation of a type of spice called Chive as an alternative.

According to news media, a wide discussion has already started about this spice crop invented by researchers. It can be cultivated throughout the year. It is expected to reduce the pressure on onions.

The chief scientific officer of the spice research center. Muhammad Shahiduzzaman told the news agency, chives taste like onions. But it does not have lumps or grains like onions.

This chive is only a leafy crop. Only the above ground part is edible. It can be harvested within 65 to 70 days after planting. It can be lifted 4/5 times a year. Its leaves, stems and flowers are used as spices. Bari Chiv-1, a cultivable high yielding variety of this spice has already been released.

Another scientist of Masala Research Center. According to Rumman Ara, he himself has used it in chive curry. The taste and smell is very similar to onion and garlic. It can be used in soups, salads, curries and Chinese vegetarian items.

Director General of the center. Abul Kalam Azad said the masala is currently in the expansion phase. It is very easy and relatively cheap to cultivate. Once the leaves and stems are cut, they grow again. Cultivation is possible in the home yard or tub. He also said that its cultivation is possible in all regions of the country.

As an alternative to onions, chives were released in 2017, the scientist said. Rumman Ara also said that it is possible to meet the demand of onion by using it.

Another one of the researchers about the quality of this chive. According to Azad, it helps in digestion and helps in controlling various diseases. It has anti-cancer properties. Also contains high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B-1, vitamin B-2, niacin, carotene and minerals. The leaves of this chive are linear in shape, flat, the edges are smooth, the bulb is long type. It is usually produced in the Siberia-Mongolia and North-China regions, the researchers said.

As our country faces a shortage of onions every year and needs to import onions from abroad to meet the demand, this chive can be used as a substitute for onions. Public-private initiatives should be taken to spread it at the farmer level.