Myagdi. Farmers of Annapurna Rural Municipality-7, Histan Tikot have been bringing more than Rs 10 million annually to their villages by cultivating unseasonal banda.

Due to the favorable geography and climate, getting good market price and earning income, the residents of Paudar have started cultivating bananas in the fields where millet and maize are planted in the rainy season.

Budhibir Pun, a farmer who is also a ward member of Annapurna-7, said most of the 100 families in Tikot have cultivated banda. “Last year, we had sold bananas worth Rs 10 million,” he said, adding, “This time we expect the production and income of the banda to increase along with the farmers and area.” According to him, a farmer is selling bananas worth Rs 100,000 to Rs 700,000.

Till three to four years ago, five people, including Pun and Tika Paija, had started cultivating banda in Tikot. Located at an altitude of 2,250 meters in the high mountainous geography, farmers have been attracted to it for the last three years.

Manraj Garbuja, a farmer from Tikot, said that they have started cultivating banda as it has faster and cash income compared to food crops. Stating that he had sold cabbage worth Rs 100,000 last year, he said that this year 14 ropanis of land is being cultivated as an alternative to millet and maize.

The ban imposed in May will be sent to the market from the last week of June. According to Manraj, the farmers here have shifted the saplings at different times so that they can be sold till August. According to him, last year, it was sold at Rs 50 per kg.

Tika Paija Pun, a farmer, said the vegetables produced by the farmers of Tikot are sold in different places including Beni, Jomsom, Pokhara and Baglung. Stating that vegetables are being cultivated without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, he said that wheat and dung of cows and buffaloes are being used as an alternative to bishadi.

“Instead of chemical fertilizers, we make fertilizers by crushing apples, leaves and cattle dung,” he said, adding, “Farmers are excited as unseasonal bananas produced through organic technology have got market and fair price.” ’

Annapurna Rural Municipality has launched ‘Vegetable Pocket Program’ in Tiko under the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project. Shyam Sharan Kurmi, agriculture officer of the rural municipality, said that the rural municipality has been providing seeds, agricultural implements and supplies to the farmers through the pocket program.

Stating that rs 1.2 million has been allocated in the current fiscal year, he said an additional Rs 600,000 has been allocated for the upcoming fiscal year for the Tikot Vegetable Pocket Programme.