A farmer nursing his banana field at Bowalia in Sadar upazila of Gopalganj — FE Photo GOPALGANJ, Aug 19: Banana cultivation is gaining popularity in Sadar upazila of the district as farmers are getting fair prices from the produce this year.
Akkas Ali Mollah, 60, a farmer of village Bowalia, said he cultivated 'Deshi Sarbi' banana on five bighas (260 decimal) of land this current year and its harvest already been start.
"I've got good price through selling the banana. Per (one) pone Banana (20 quartet) is being selling (wholesale) at the rate of Tk 250," he said.
Akkas also said this cash crop (Banana) farming also began commercially in this region and growers highly benefited from this Banana produce.
According to the Department of Agric-ultural Extension (DAE), Gopalganj official sources said a total of 189 hectares of land have been brought into Banana cultivation in the district this year. As many as 73 hectares are in Sadar upazila.
Liton Bala, Sub-Assi-stant Agriculture Officer (SAAO), Gopinathpur union under Gopalganj Sadar upazila in the district, told the FE that Banana farming profitable crop for farmers in this region and a farmer can harvest the banana from only 60 to 70 days from planting and farmers got at least 160 pcs of Banana from a Banana tree which wholesale price is Tk 500.
He more added when a farmer planting a Banana tree (seeding tree) and its continuing minimum three years long, due to growth its root & there is no need further planting SAAO, Liton said.
Now, the growers in this region farming this cash crop commercially. The farming areas are Gosherchar, Manikdha, Char Sonakoir, Podda-rerchar, Haridashpur, Bowalia, Charpathalia and Char Suktail with etc under Gopalganj Sadar upazila in the district, sources said.
Mofiz Sharif, 55, a Banana farmer of village Gopinathpur, Ward No. 5, under Gopinathpur union of Sadar upazila in the district, said he cultivated 'Dashi Sarbi' Banana on 25 decimal of land this current year.
Where investment about Tk 10,000 but I will got nearer Tk 50,000 from its produce, net profit Tk 40,000, Mofiz further said.
A farmer can harvest Banana around 60 to 70 days since its planting. It is not only that easy farming and short duration besides more profit, Mofiz said.
Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director (DD) Agriculture, Gopalganj told The FE that Banana cultivation is more profitable cash crop for farming in this region. About 1,150 farmers involved in this farming in the district this current year. Of them 450 farmers involved under Gopalganj Sadar upazila and those farmers are earning nearer taka 80,000 from one local bigha (52 decimal) of land but investment Tk only 20,000.
So, farmers are more interested on this Banana farming. Side by side our field workers SAAO closely monitoring on this farming and continuing collaborating them for this Banana cultivation, DD added.
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