Good yield, fair price delight marginal banana growers

Roving Correspondent

JOYPURHAT, Dec 17: Banana farming has brought smile on the faces of hundred of marginal farmers in the district this season as they got a bumper production of the produce. The growers are also delighted over the good market price.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office source said fair price has been inspiring the cultivators of five upazilas of the district to grow the popular fruit on their land.

"The market price of the crops is satisfactory elsewhere the district's kitchen markets," said business man Mithu, 56, at Gopnathpur area of Akkelpur upazila." "I get unexpected yield due to favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary agri-input." he added.

Each maund of raw Chinichampa variety is being sold at Tk 14000 to Tk 1500 in the retail market while the wholesale rate is Tk 1350 to Tk 1400. Sagor variety is being sold at Tk 36 to Tk 40 each dozen and Anupum is being sold at Tk 60 to Tk 70.

"I have brought some 50 decimals of land under banana (Sagor) farming spending Tk 23000," said peasant Arun Kumar of Khetla upzilas. He further said, "I have already harvested some 30 maunds of the fruit and sold it at Tk 39,000."

To get expected yield, the banana tree should be cultivated 3 to 5 feet distance round the year but Ashar and Srabon months are suitable for cultivating the fruit, said sub-assistance agriculture officer Azizar Rahman.

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