Collective banana farming thrives in Dolakha

By Our Correspondent, Dolakha, Nov. 21:The collective banana farming in Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-5 Suri Tinekhu of Dolakha has started yielding income.

Nabaraj Khadka, Chairman of Haleshwar Agriculture and Livestock Farmers’ Group, said that collective banana cultivation by 15 local youths in their own farm in 80 ropanies of land investing of Rs. 1.5 million has started giving yields within two years of plantation.

He said that they earned Rs. 150,000 from the sale of bananas within two years of plantation.

According to him, they planted bananas in the fields that are left barren and others or were regularly planting rice.

“We have generated an income of Rs. 150,000 by selling 15,000 bananas in the first year. There is no problem with the market for selling produce. After customers come to the village, bananas are considered to be a cash crop and productive farming,” Khadka said.

According to him, bananas have been taken to nearby hotels, shops and Ivithan weekly market and sold.

Ramakrishna Khadka, a farmer, said that the number of farmers is increasing as the production of bananas is increasing year after year.

The banana cultivation, which started in 80 ropanies of land, has now started expanding elsewhere.

Chairman Nabaraj Khadka said that because it is not complicated like other crops and does not require much effort, it has begun to expand banana farming commercially.

More than 200 bananas can grow in one plant if farmers are able to manage manure properly.

Unlike other crops, monkeys, deer, porcupine and pheasants do not cause damage, so the attraction of people has started to increase in banana farming.

Farmers have now planted banana varieties, such as local mungre and G9 banana. Due to the location and soil, the locals are also getting more attracted as banana cultivation started to flourish.

Chairman Khadka said, “I have started banana farming in the village after returning from Israel after eight years of working there.”

After youth migrated abroad from employment, the idea of making good use of the barren land in the country and started banana farming commercially, he said.

“I believe that migration abroad can be prevented by making the village green and economically strong. It is expected that the government will support our efforts and make the country self-reliant in banana and other agricultural products," he said.

He said that banana cultivation started with the 70 per cent subsidy provided by the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Ramechhap under the Bagmati Provincial government which encouraged us at first.