Sherpur Correspondent:

Farming of banana is gaining popularity in the district as the soil of the area has been proved suitable for cultivation of the popular fruit.

Farmers are showing more and more interest in cultivating the cash-crop on fallow land next to their houses and on pond banks. Also many are becoming self-sufficient by farming bananas in the upazila.

It is becoming popular in the district as it is more profitable at less cost.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target of banana cultivation on 660 hectares of land in the district this year. However, exceeding the target farmers cultivated bananas on 943 hectares of land.

Since the quality of Sherpur’s bananas is good and delicious, the bananas of the district are going for sale in at least 20 districts after meeting the local demand.

Therefore, bananas have become a potential cash crop in the district as it is more profitable with lower investment and less effort.

This year, about 500 farmers of Jognibagh village under Charsherpur union in Sadar upazila, have cultivated different varieties of bananas. Farmers are successfully selling their bananas for Taka 80 to one lakh from one bigha of land while the cost is Taka 20 to 30 thousand from the same land.

Banana farmers and sellers said that the demand for Sherpur bananas is high due to their good taste and quality. Therefore, a large quantity of bananas is sold daily from the banana market at Chowkidar Bari More in Sribardi upazila of the district.

It is known that bananas worth Taka 50 lakh are supplied to at least 20

districts every day from the markets.

Banana farmer Munsar Ali, 50, of Sribardi Sadar union said, “This time I have planted 1,200 banana trees. From which bananas worth at least Taka six lakh can be sold.”

Farmers are getting more success in banana cultivation than other crops, so farmers are increasing their interest in banana cultivation.

Farmer Abbas Mia, 45, of the same union said that the cost of banana

cultivation is low compared to other crops. After preparing the land, first time the seedlings are planted, the yield comes within a few months. After that, with regular maintenance, the same land can yield multiple times. That is why many farmers on the border are now focusing on banana cultivation, leaving aside rice or other crops.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office sources said that banana is also being cultivated in various areas including Jhenaigati and Nalitabari upazilas along the border, in addition to Sribardi.

Banana seedlings can be harvested three times in 24 months. Due to the good profit with little labor and capital, the scope of banana cultivation is increasing day by day compared to other crops.

The Agriculture Department hopes that this cultivation will expand further in the future.

Shakhawat Hossain, deputy director of the DAE, said farmers can make a good profit cultivating bananas from one bigha of land. Therefore, farmers are becoming interested in banana cultivation day by day.

The Agriculture Department is also providing all kinds of assistance to the farmers who are interested in cultivating bananas in the district.