Kathmandu. Banana entrepreneurs have appealed to the public not to import bananas as they can sustain the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals.

Central President of Federation of Nepal Banana Producers’ Association, Bishnu Hari Panta said that banana production was encouraging in the country at present and Nepali products would supplement the festival season.

He said that the Federation has already written to the Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers Entrepreneurs of Nepal to stop the import of bananas. The FNCCI has stated in the request letter that the production of bananas is enthusiastic in Nepal at present and in the current situation, foreign bananas are being imported uninterrupted in the Nepali market even though the production from Nepal is capable of sustaining the demand of the Nepali market till Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.

“The import of bananas will directly affect the country’s economy, foreign trade deficit and employment, as well as the risk of displacement of Nepali commercial banana producers,” Panta said in the request.

The request letter reads, “We urge all the organizations and traders not to import bananas from India after Ashoj 6 by coordinating and discussing with the concerned traders in view of the difficult situation of the country.” We inform and request that the federation will not be responsible for the damage that may be caused to the Nepali farmers or supporters if the traders import forcefully. ’

Eight committees and representatives of banana farmers have jointly issued a notice in this regard. The statement was signed by Ghananath Mahato, president of Banana Producers Association of Chitwan, Dipendra Tharu of Kailali, Surendra Chaudhary of Kanchanpur, Top Lal Tharu of Bardiya, president of Nawalparasi district Lakhu BK, former president of Chitwan Yagya Prasad Subedi, vice-president of Kailali district Tekendra Dhami and coordinator of Banana Zone Coordination Committee, Nawalparasi Yubaraj Maurya.