Farmers in the district have shifted to banana cultivation instead of other crops as the cultivation of the fruit has proved profitable.
According to Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, banana was cultivated on 1200 hectares of land in five upazilas of the district this year.
The main crops of the district are paddy, wheat, jute, potato. Generally the farmers cultivate these crops. But in recent times, the nutritious fruit banana becomes a profitable crop.
The banana varieties cultivated are Sagar, Sobri and Champa.
The farmers are cultivating the fruit extensively in different areas as the fruit brings a handful amount of money to them.
Besides, the soil, temperature, rainfall and other factors are suitable for banana cultivation. So, more and more farmers are being engaged in cultivating the fruit.
Cultivators Shaherul, Rabiul and Abdul Kader of different villages of Sadar upazila said to cultivate banana on one bigha of land Tk30,000 to 35,000 is required. But after selling, the farmers get Tk50,000 to Tk60,000 on the same quantity of land.
They further said that once banana is transplanted, it gives crop for the four consecutive years.
After transplanting banana sapling, banana can be harvested within 9 to 11 months. In one bigha of land, 300 to 400 banana saplings can be planted.
Banana trader Abdul Gaffar of Birpara village under Akcha union of Sadar upazila said he purchases 100 clusters of banana at the rate of Tk15,000 to Tk16,000 which he sends to Dhaka, Chittagong and other parts of the country.
The fare of a truck-load of banana fruits is Tk15,000-17,000 from Thakurgaon to Dhaka, and he sells one truck-load at Tk100,000-105,000.
DAE Deputy Director Arshed Ali said: “Banana now becomes a cash crop. So the farmers have been cultivating banana extensively in the district.”
