Tikapur. Tekendra Dhami, a farmer of Tikapur municipality-4, earned Rs 1.5 million from banana cultivation last year. Last year, he sold bananas worth Rs 4.7 million from banana cultivation in three bighas and seven katthas.

“I sold bananas worth Rs 4.7 million when I was produced on time, but I have not kept track of selling retail,” he said, adding, “I have earned up to Rs 1.5 million per bigha.” ’

Dhami has cultivated banana on 19 bighas of land. In addition, sugarcane is being produced on three bighas of land, paddy on other land and banana tissue culture brinjal. He has been involved in banana farming for the last 14 years and has been cultivating it through drip irrigation technology. In this way, Dhami, who is engaged in banana farming, has been supported by the Ranijamara Kularia Irrigation Project Agriculture Program Implementation Unit.

“The project has provided drip irrigation, power tillers and autos, and i have been helping distribute banana seedlings to other farmers,” Dhami said.

Dhami, who has been creating future and employment opportunities in the country, has got satisfaction from this profession after knowing that banana farming generates a decent income. “I have been cultivating by utilizing my land and renting the rest of the land,” he said. Sometimes there is a problem when there is no market according to the cost. ’

Farmers plant bananas in June. There is a shortage of bananas in the rainy season. Dhami said that there should be a change in the thinking of the farmers to get a fair price. “It is customary for every farmer to plant bananas in June. This time I planted banana in November, this banana is produced in July, but there is a problem due to lack of fertilizer,” Dhami said, adding, “The banana planted in April is now going to the market.” ’

Dhami has been cultivating multiple crops in banana cultivation. “We have grown 24 quintals of mustard in bananas, but now we have grown khurkhani lattermm in kerabari,” he said. You can benefit from planting other crops along with bananas. ’

Dhami has 12 regular workers. Apart from this, wage workers are employed in other seasons. “There is a problem in crop insurance if there is a market guarantee and avoid natural disasters,” he said. The designated companies do not agree to insure. Insured farmers are yet to get compensation. At present, I have insurance of only Rs 50 lakh. After a lot of requests, a small number of crops have been insured. Farmers should be made comfortable in crop insurance. ’

At present, farmers of Kailali are selling bananas at Rs 40 to Rs 45 per dozen. However, it is sold for more than Rs 80 in the market. Banana farmers have also not received the price and consumers are falling into high prices. Middlemen are getting the price. Farmers in Tikapur, which is known as the fertile role of banana cultivation in Nepal, did not get the seedlings on time this year.

Akriti Thakur, agriculture officer of the project, said that the project has been supporting the installation of drip irrigation technology, 50 percent in brinjal, 75 percent in nutrients and technology to encourage banana farmers. “The project is helping banana farmers like other agricultural crops. Agriculture Officer Thakur said, “In the second phase of the project, banana cultivation has been provided on 250 hectares of land. It has helped in installing drip irrigation technology in 100 hectares of land. ’

The project has supported 687 farmers of the project area for banana cultivation. In the first phase, the project had helped farmers in banana cultivation. Hundreds of farmers from Tikapur and Janaki areas of Kailali have been attracted to banana farming after the project’s support. Project chief Bharat Kandel said the project was also encouraging the young farmers as per the government’s policy to engage the youth in agriculture.

“It is a good thing for the youth to get involved in agriculture. Farmers seem to be moving towards self-reliance in bananas,” he said. The soil and climate of Kailali are good for bananas. The third phase of the project has also begun. Chief Kandel said that in the third phase, the program to support banana farmers and facilitate the expansion of the market is being facilitated.