Commercial banana farming has flourished in Dang district lately.
Local farmers have shifted to the profession, quitting traditional farming. It is easier and there is a market for the fruit, they say.
Prithviraj Lamichhane, agricultural economist at the District's Agriculture Knowledge Centre said that banana farming is done in 670 hectares of land in the district.
The production, however, only fulfils around 60 percent of the district’s demand during Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festival, according to Lamichhane.
More farmers in Deukhuri, Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City along with Gadahawa Rural Municipality, Shanti Municipality and Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City have been attracted to the profession of late.
Bidya Bahadur Chaudhary, a resident of Sisahnia in Rapti Rural Municipality-7, has been involved in banana farming for the past four years.
Started by renting three bighas of land, Chaudhary says he sells bananas worth around Rs 1.4 million annually. “Income from bananas is far better compared to other crops.”
Another banana farmer Rana Prasad Subedi from the same area says he has not faced any issues in selling his produce so far. Subedi grows bananas in 6 bighas of land.
Low availability of bananas grown in India has helped the local farmers, he added.
RSS
