Shree Ram Sigdel

Nawalparasi, February 4

Banana farmers in Kawasoti region have not only become worried over the decrease in banana prices but have also become alarmed to see their investment go down the drain.

Banana farmers have said that their profit margin this year has been much lower compared to last year. Banana cultivation was started on around 300 hectares of land with a target to declare half dozen VDCs in the area as pocket areas for banana cultivation.

Farmers of Kawasoti Shivmandir area were able to generate around Rs 60 million from the sale of banana last year. Businessmen purchased banana for 80 paise per banana last year while this year, it has been difficult to sell bananas for even half the price, complained farmers.

The Shivashankar Banana Producers Committee informed that farmers cultivated banana on 500 hectares of land this year, after seeing the success of it last year.

Banana produced in Kawasoti is distributed to Kathmandu, Pokhara and Baglung bazaars. Banana price decreased this year due to increased cold in these areas.

Moreover, low-cost bananas from India also flooded the market, adding to the woes of local farmers, businessman Govinda Adhikary said.

Farmers said that this has hit them hard as they had not planned for other alternatives besides banana farming. Bananas could be used for making chips, wine and juice, apart from its traditional use as a fruit. Rudra Poudel, a farmer of Kawasoti, said that industries should be established locally to produce such alternative products.