Chitwan Storm Causes Preliminary Damage of Over NPR 40 Million to Banana Crops

Chitwan. Banana cultivation has suffered damage due to a storm. Preliminary data suggests that the storm on Chaitra 2 caused damage to bananas exceeding NPR 40 million.

According to Mahesh Regmi, Chief of the National Agricultural Modernization Program Implementation Unit, Chitwan, an on-site inspection of the areas affected by banana crop damage was conducted over two days, Wednesday and Thursday. He stated that 20 farms were inspected during this period.

The storm caused the most significant damage in Ward No. 7 and 23 of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Wards No. 5, 12, and 14 of Ratnanagar Municipality, Ward No. 13 of Khairahani Municipality, and areas from Ward No. 2 to 5 of Kalika. According to Regmi, the damage in the orchards ranged from one percent to 88 percent.

He said, "We found 88 percent damage in one farm. Not everyone is in that situation." The storm caused major damage to Malbhog bananas. He informed that Malbhog bananas suffered 78 percent damage, and G-9 bananas suffered 22 percent damage. Overall, 43.35 percent of the bananas were damaged. The office has records of bananas planted on 1,800 hectares.

Bishnu Hari, Coordinator of the Banana Superzone Chitwan, stated, "Farmers are in distress because the time for starting banana cultivation insurance is delayed." He mentioned that the problem is compounded by the difficulty farmers face in receiving compensation.

According to him, farmers have still not received the compensation amount for last year's damage. It is unknown when they will receive compensation for the current damage. So far, banana farmers in the district have submitted applications to the insurance company demanding compensation for NPR 40 million in losses. He added that more applications are expected, and since some farmers did not have insurance, it will take time to get the exact figures.

Ghananath Mahato, Chairman of the Chitwan Banana Producers Association, stated that the Malbhog bananas planted in the district were severely damaged due to the storm on Chaitra 2. Currently, commercial banana farming is being carried out on 2,000 hectares in the district. Stating that the district is working as a Banana Superzone, he mentioned that the association is collecting data on how many hectares of banana crops were damaged by the storm.

He noted that banana growers are worried about the damage caused by the wind. He informed that farmers have suffered significant losses because the storm arrived earlier this year compared to last year when it usually came towards the end of Baisakh. He said, "Banana-producing farmers have insurance. But as the amount received from insurance is delayed, farmers are becoming increasingly disheartened."

Farmer Baburam Bhatta, a resident of Ratnanagar Municipality-11, suffered damage to six bighas of his banana plantation. Bhatta, who is cultivating bananas by renting land, said he faced losses due to the storm starting in Chaitra. He mentioned that since the storm felled most of the bananas just as they were ready for harvest, he now has to hire laborers for cleaning up the banana orchard. Most of the bananas he planted are now flattened.

Office statistics indicate that Malbhog yields 24 metric tons per hectare and G-9 yields 55 tons per hectare. 700 farmers are engaged in commercial banana cultivation in the district.