Stricter Quarantine Measures on Indian Imports Boost Domestic Banana Sales in Nepal

Chitwan. Following the government's tightening of quarantine measures, the import of bananas from India has decreased, leading to an increased demand for domestically produced bananas. Ghananath Mahato, Chairman of the Chitwan Banana Producers Association, stated that the problem of selling bananas, which existed in previous years, is currently being resolved.

According to him, in past years, the 'Jinan' (green banana) would go unsold to the extent that birds would eat it. Furthermore, while the 'Chini Champa' variety found a market, it was difficult to get a good price. He mentioned that currently, the Jinan banana is selling for NPR 3 per cluster. Although farmers faced difficulties due to unsold Jinan bananas during the past Dashain and Tihar festivals, sales have now increased, he shared.

He also informed that the Chini Champa banana is fetching a good price. This variety is currently selling for NPR 600 per bunch. He stated that farmers are relieved as domestically produced bananas are finding a market and good prices.

Bishnu Hari Pant, Coordinator of the Nepal Banana Producers Federation, attributes the halt in imported bananas to the government's strictness on biological food safety. This has allowed Nepali produce to capture the market. He said, "Quarantine measures have been tightened after the TR4 disease was detected in bananas in Nepal." He noted that the stricter quarantine on imported bananas began on Mangsir 2.

He further informed that due to lax enforcement of biological food safety in quarantine, banana farmers in Nepal incurred losses amounting to NPR 600 million during the last Dashain and Tihar alone. He added, "Currently, there is increased enthusiasm among banana farmers. If this situation persists, Nepal will become self-sufficient in bananas within a year." He stated that farmers who were on the verge of displacement are now in a position to expand due to the stricter enforcement of biological food safety.

He mentioned receiving complaints from consumers who are being forced to pay exorbitant prices as locally produced bananas enter the market, and requested stakeholders to monitor this issue. He said, "We have received information that consumers are being cheated by middlemen. Monitoring this is essential."

Mahesh Regmi, Chief of the National Agricultural Modernization Implementation Program Implementation Unit, stated that the problem of locally produced bananas in the district not finding a market or price has been resolved. According to him, banana cultivation is currently being carried out on an area of two thousand hectares in the district, yielding an annual production of 70,000 metric tons of bananas.

He stated that the state is committed to encouraging local production by continuously tightening biological food safety in quarantine. Bananas produced here are supplied to major cities including Chitwan, Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Bhairahawa.