RANGPUR, Mar 4, 2025 (BSS) - Farmers are delighted with a bumper yield and lucrative prices for bananas, one of the most profitable crops, cultivated across both mainland and char areas of the Rangpur agricultural region this season.

According to farmers, banana cultivation has been highly profitable, with prices remaining lucrative since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many have transformed their fortunes, achieving self-reliance through successful farming.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have cultivated bananas on 2,683 hectares of land in all five districts of the region during this Rabi season.

Of them, farmers have cultivated banana on 1,150 hectares of land in Rangpur, 470 hectares in Kurigram, 128 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 246 hectares in Nilphamari and 689 hectares of land in Gaibandha districts.
 
"During the last season, farmers cultivated bananas on 2,613 hectares of land in these five districts of the region," said additional director of the DAE for Rangpur region agriculturist Md. Afzal Hossain.
 
After getting repeated bumper production with lucrative prices in recent years, farmers are expanding banana cultivation every year during both the Rabi and Kharif seasons in the region.

Along with reaping huge profits from banana farming and attaining self-reliance, farmers are also improving their livelihoods, meeting their own nutrition and public nourishment to enhance immunity of the population.
 
"The field level sub-assistant agricultural officers of the DAE are assisting farmers and char people to expand cultivation of 'Meher Sagar', 'Sobri' and other varieties of banana on more land both in mainland and char areas," Afzal said.
 
Talking to BSS, farmers Abdul Hye of village Dolapara in Taraganj upazila and Nur Mohammad of village Gopalpur in Badarganj upazila said they have cultivated bananas on more land areas this time.
Farmers Lokman Hossain, Yusuf Ali, Dulal Hossain and Faruk Ahmed of different char villages in Nageswari upazila of Kurigram said banana cultivation is largely contributing to socio-economic development of char families.

Char people are selling bananas on one side of char land while cultivating bananas afresh on the other side on vacant lands round the year.

"The process of formation and growth of new banana bunches continues all the time giving the gardens fresh looks," said Lokman Hossain.

Local traders and representatives of whole sellers are purchasing bananas from the banana orchards and marketing those in bigger towns and cities to earn better profits along with helping people to meet their nourishment. 
 
Banana retailers Bosu Mian at Keranipara Chowrasta Market and Fazlul Haque at Rangpur City Market said that every four pieces of 'Malbhog' variety banana is now selling at rates between Taka 40 and Taka 50.
 
Deputy Director of the Burirhat Horticulture Center of the DAE in Rangpur Dr. Md. Abu Sayem said banana cultivation in mainland and char land has become popular in recent years bringing self-reliance to many families.
 
"Besides, cultivation of bananas along with vegetables adopting the mixed-relay method on a commercial basis in mainland and char areas is expanding continuously and becoming popular among people to change their fortune," he said.