Chitwan, March 29

The roaring dust storm yesterday has taken a huge toll on the banana plantation in Chitwan.

Local farmers are estimated to have incurred a loss of over Rs 10 million.

“I had planted banana plants in about nine bigaha land, but the storm destroyed around 50 per cent of the plants.

Similarly, farmers of places like Ratnanagar, Chainpur, Pithuwa and Padampur have also incurred huge loss due to the storm,” said Chitwan Banana Producers’ Association Chairperson Bishnuhari Pant.

He added, “Around 15,000 to 20,000 banana plants has fallen due to the powerful storm in the district.” He said around Rs 600 million was invested in banana plantation in the district. “There are around 600 farmers involved in banana plantation in the district.

Among them, 170 had insured their plantations, which makes them eligible to claim damages in case of disaster,” said Pant.

The government has been promoting banana plantation in Chitwan for the past six years as per its ‘One Village One Product’ programme.

Banana plantations occupy around 2,500 bigaha land in the district and are sent to Kathmandu, Butwal and Pokhara.