Banana farming expanding fast in Nilphamari
Our Correspondent | Monday, 29 January 2018
NILPHAMARI, Jan 28: Hundreds of poor families of the district have been attaining financial solvency by farming banana.
Sources said banana cultivation is increasing gradually in the area. High land or semi sandy land is suitable for farming the popular fruit.
Traders of the district had to bring banana from Bogra and some other southern districts and sell in the local market.
Sources said nearly 2,000 banana saplings can be planted on 30 decimals of land. A banana sapling is being sold at Tk 10 to Tk 15. It needs only eight months for a sapling to grow matured and bear banana fruit.
Banana cultivation is profitable. One banana plant may produce 200 bananas. Each banana is being sold at Tk 5.0 to Tk 8.0 in the retail shops.
DAE sources said around 400 hectares of land have been brought under the farming of banana with the production target of 300 tonnes.
Abdur Rahman, a banana farmer of Itakhola union under Sadar upazila said he has a banana orchard on 30 decimals of land. He has made a profit of Tk 0.2 million this season.