Hailstorm shatters hopes of Rangpur banana growers

RANGPUR, Apr 07: The banana growers at Pirgachha upazila under the district have become disappointed as nor'wester accompanied by hailstorm damaged a good number of banana orchards across the upazila on Saturday.

According to sources, the farmers of the upazila cultivated the fruit with the hope of earning a good profit this season but their hopes of having good yield got shattered as most of the banana orchards have been destroyed by the devastating storm.

Many poor and marginal farmers said they had borrowed money at a high interest rate from the money lenders and NGOs to cultivate the fruit. But now they have become apprehensive about repaying their loans.

Anwarul Islam (52), a banana cultivator of Kalitala village under the upazila said he had around 1000 banana plants in his orchard but the hailstorm and nor'wester wrecked havoc to most of the plants. He has become a pauper now, he lamented. He has never seen such intensity of storm in the past several years, he added.

Banana growers Josmat Mia and Khademul of Taluk Isad village said that storm had shattered their hopes as most of their banana plants were damaged during the storm.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Shamimur Rahman said hailstorm and nor'wester damaged different crops including Boro, maize and other crops in different areas under the upazila but banana orchards have severely been destroyed.

They have already visited most of the affected areas, he added.

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