Banana Cultivation in Jhapa Destroyed by Storm, Causing Millions in Losses

Jhapa. Banana cultivation in various places in Jhapa has been destroyed by the storm and rain that occurred last week. This year, banana cultivation was done in one thousand 918 hectares of land in Jhapa.

An initial estimate suggests that the damage caused by wind and rain amounts to approximately two crore 12 lakh 86 thousand 292 rupees. The Agricultural Knowledge Center has stated that banana cultivation spread over 29.97 hectares of land has been completely destroyed.

The banana cultivation in Jhapa Rural Municipality, Baradashi Rural Municipality, and Kankai Municipality was damaged due to the storm and rain, informed Sagar Bisht, Chief of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, Jhapa.

Commercial banana cultivation is being carried out in Jhapa Rural Municipality-3 and 6, the Battisbigha area of Baradashi Rural Municipality-7, and Kankai Municipality-5. According to the Agricultural Knowledge Center, banana cultivation spread over 29.97 hectares of land in the affected areas has been completely destroyed. The storm has flattened banana plants, destroying even those ready for harvest, causing significant financial loss to the farmers.

According to Bisht, banana cultivation spread over one hectare of land in Jhapa Rural Municipality-3 has been completely destroyed. A loss of 20.1 metric tons of production has occurred there.

The most significant damage appears to be in the Battisbigha area of Baradashi Rural Municipality-7. In this area, banana cultivation spread over 25.5 hectares of land has been affected, with an initial estimate of 512.55 metric tons of production loss.

Banana cultivation spread over two hectares of land in Kankai Municipality-5 has been damaged by the storm. The Agricultural Knowledge Center's data indicates that 40.2 metric tons of bananas from that area have been destroyed.

In Jhapa Rural Municipality-3, the commercial banana cultivation by farmers Chandra Basnet and Pooja Kharel, spread over 12 bighas of land, is estimated to have suffered losses of approximately 60 lakh rupees.

The damage to banana cultivation has put farmers in further trouble. The Agricultural Knowledge Center states that the possibility of farmers receiving compensation is slim as most farmers have not insured their crops. In the fiscal year 2082/83, banana cultivation was done in one thousand 910 hectares of land in Jhapa. A total of three lakh 88 thousand 310.2 metric tons of bananas were produced from that area.