Banana farming becomes popular in Rangpur
Sunday, 18 July 2010
A Correspondent
RANGPUR, July 17: Banana farming in the district has become popular over the last couple of years for its economic viability.
Banana is cultivated in thousands of hectares of land every year and about 30 thousand people are directly involved in it. The farming has also changed fate of many educated unemployed young people.
Banana has largely been cultivated at Pirgonj upazilla of the district. According to Rangpur Department of Agriculture Extension, no target has been set for banana cultivation in eight districts of the Rangpur-Dinajpur region this year. However, Banana was cultivated on 1500 hectares of land in Rangpur, 20 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 727 in Dinajpur and 115 hectares of lands in Thakurgaon districts.
Sources of Pirganj upazilla DAE told the FE that some one thousand hectares of land in 15 unions of the upazilla were brought under banana cultivation this season with the production target of 2500 bunches of banana per hectares.
The varieties of banana produced here include -- Meher Sagor, Deshi Shobori and Chapa. If the weather remains favourable, at least 2.5 million bunches of banana would grow. The market price of the total produce is about Tk 300 million. A bunch of banana sells in retail markets at Tk 100 to Tk 130.
The farming has not only changed the lot of the farmers but also created permanent employment opportunities for thousands of people in the district.
Upazilla Agriculture Officer Makbul Hossain said 15 workshops were arranged on banana farming for the growers of the upazilla this season where they were trained in latest and developed method of the farming.
He also mentioned frequent farming of the crop on the same land lessens the fertility of the soil. So, the farmers are advised to diversify crops for re-fertility of land.
Abdul Jabber, a graduate of Gongarampur village, found no job and engaged himself in banana farming. He said the farming gave him double profit with little investment and made him self-reliant. The production cost in one acre of land is about Tk 50-55 thousand while the return was about Tk 0.1 to 0.12 million.
Many of the farmers at Pirganj Bazaar said the production cost of the farming has increased this year as the price of pesticides increased in the market. Fungal diseases and the seasonal storms were the main enemies of the crop. Regular spraying of pesticides is essential to save the plants from pest attack.
They also urged the government to introduce easy bank loan for them.
RANGPUR, July 17: Banana farming in the district has become popular over the last couple of years for its economic viability.
Banana is cultivated in thousands of hectares of land every year and about 30 thousand people are directly involved in it. The farming has also changed fate of many educated unemployed young people.
Banana has largely been cultivated at Pirgonj upazilla of the district. According to Rangpur Department of Agriculture Extension, no target has been set for banana cultivation in eight districts of the Rangpur-Dinajpur region this year. However, Banana was cultivated on 1500 hectares of land in Rangpur, 20 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 727 in Dinajpur and 115 hectares of lands in Thakurgaon districts.
Sources of Pirganj upazilla DAE told the FE that some one thousand hectares of land in 15 unions of the upazilla were brought under banana cultivation this season with the production target of 2500 bunches of banana per hectares.
The varieties of banana produced here include -- Meher Sagor, Deshi Shobori and Chapa. If the weather remains favourable, at least 2.5 million bunches of banana would grow. The market price of the total produce is about Tk 300 million. A bunch of banana sells in retail markets at Tk 100 to Tk 130.
The farming has not only changed the lot of the farmers but also created permanent employment opportunities for thousands of people in the district.
Upazilla Agriculture Officer Makbul Hossain said 15 workshops were arranged on banana farming for the growers of the upazilla this season where they were trained in latest and developed method of the farming.
He also mentioned frequent farming of the crop on the same land lessens the fertility of the soil. So, the farmers are advised to diversify crops for re-fertility of land.
Abdul Jabber, a graduate of Gongarampur village, found no job and engaged himself in banana farming. He said the farming gave him double profit with little investment and made him self-reliant. The production cost in one acre of land is about Tk 50-55 thousand while the return was about Tk 0.1 to 0.12 million.
Many of the farmers at Pirganj Bazaar said the production cost of the farming has increased this year as the price of pesticides increased in the market. Fungal diseases and the seasonal storms were the main enemies of the crop. Regular spraying of pesticides is essential to save the plants from pest attack.
They also urged the government to introduce easy bank loan for them.