G9 banana brings hefty profit to Gopalganj farmers

GOPALGANJ, April 18: Interest to cultivate high-yielding G9 banana has been rising by the day among the farmers in Muksudpur and Kashiani upazilas of Gopalganj as the variety has been bringing them good profit.
G9 banana stands out from other varities as it produces 16-17 hands per tree, whereas common varities, such as Sabri banana, produces 10-12 hands, according to Hirok Kumar Sarker, deputy director at Kashiani horticulture centre. Bananas grown from the hands are also referred to as fingers.
Rezbi Shariar, sub-assistant agriculture officer (SAAO) at
Kashiani horticulture centre, said the G9 variety produces 200 bananas per tree and growers can sell them at about Tk 700-800. He also said interest
to grow the banana variety has been rising among the farmers in the region as it brings more profit.
A mother G9 banana tree grows about five-six pup plants, or more, all of which altogether fruit thrice every two years, while the Sabri banana fruits a year after plantation and dies.
Jakir Sheikh
(50), a farmer of Kadompur village in Muksudpur's Gobindopur Union, said he cultivated
G9 banana on 4.7 bighas with a cost of Tk 220,000-225,000 and will sell his produce at Tk 460,000-465,000. He further said that farmers can start harvesting bananas within nine to ten months after plantation.
A total of 10 hectares have been brought under experimental banana cultivation in the two upazilas, where about 120 farmers are involved in the farming.
Ripon Sheikh, 40, a farmer of Muksudpur's Kamlapur village, said he has secured a huge profit after he began cultivating G9 bananas on 9.45 bighas two years ago. He added that the cultivation cost is comparatively low for the variety.
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Rafiqul Islam Prodhan, sub-assistant agriculture officer (SAAO) at Horticulture center at Kasiani, said they are working at the field level to encourage farmers to cultivate G9 banana.