Banana cultivation increases in Faridpur
Our Correspondent | Saturday, 14 March 2009
FARIDPUR, Mar 13: The cultivation of banana has been increasing gradually in nine upazilas of the district bringing 1,300 hectares of land under banana this year. Last year banana was cultivated on 650 hectares in the district.
Local Agriculture Depart-ment sources said easy loan system and good price of the produce inspired farmers to grow more bananas.
Abul Kasem, one of the banana farmers said that he had earned Taka - 10 thousand to 13 thousand per hectare by cultivating banana in the last three years. Referring to the huge demand of banana across the country, the other farmers said that now banana was being imported from India, Nepal and Mayanmar to cope with the increasing demand for it.
Agriculture officials said as hybrid banana saplings were now available, the farmers were replacing the low yielding varieties with the high yielding ones. Cultivation of banana required lesser use of fertilisers and pesticides. Besides other seasonal crops could also be cultivated on the same field, the farmers said according to the doctors banana provided nutrition to all age groups of people, especially the children.
Local Agriculture Depart-ment sources said easy loan system and good price of the produce inspired farmers to grow more bananas.
Abul Kasem, one of the banana farmers said that he had earned Taka - 10 thousand to 13 thousand per hectare by cultivating banana in the last three years. Referring to the huge demand of banana across the country, the other farmers said that now banana was being imported from India, Nepal and Mayanmar to cope with the increasing demand for it.
Agriculture officials said as hybrid banana saplings were now available, the farmers were replacing the low yielding varieties with the high yielding ones. Cultivation of banana required lesser use of fertilisers and pesticides. Besides other seasonal crops could also be cultivated on the same field, the farmers said according to the doctors banana provided nutrition to all age groups of people, especially the children.