Jhapa. Bananas worth Rs 10,590,800 were sold at the Birtamode Agricultural Wholesale Market in a month. Farmers from Danabari, Mahamai of Ilam and Khudunabari, Sanischare, Mechinagar and Bhadrapur among other places come here to sell bananas.

According to Maya Rajbanshi, data assistant officer at Agriculture Market Management Committee, 19,256 bananas were sold at the rate of Rs 550 per house during the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals. He said that bananas were sold in such quantity from October 26 to October 26.

According to him, bananas are being exported to Biratnagar, Janakpur and Kathmandu for Rs 300 to maximum Rs 800 from here. He said that more bananas were sold during the Chhath festival than during Dashain and Tihar.

The wholesale market, which is a big commercial hub here, has a laboratory to test pesticides produced in Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam and other hilly districts.

Statistics Assistant Officer Rajbanshi said that fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products are sent to the market only after testing for the pesticide.