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

Jhapa. Banana cultivation in various parts of Jhapa has been destroyed by the storm and rain that occurred last week. This year, banana cultivation was done in 1,918 hectares of land in Jhapa. The preliminary estimate of damage due to wind and rain is Rs 2 crore 12 lakh 86 thousand 292. The Agriculture Knowledge Center has stated that banana cultivation spread over 29.97 hectares of land has been completely destroyed.

Damage to banana cultivation in Jhapa Rural Municipality, Baradashi Rural Municipality, and Kankai Municipality was caused by the storm and rain, informed Sagar Bisht, chief of the Agriculture 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 Agriculture Knowledge Center, banana cultivation spread over 29.97 hectares of land in the affected areas has been completely destroyed. Farmers have suffered significant financial losses as even the plants ready for harvest were destroyed when the storm felled the banana plants.

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 damage appears to have occurred in the Battisbigha area of Baradashi Rural Municipality-7. In that area, banana cultivation spread over 25.5 hectares of land has been affected, and the preliminary estimate of damage to production is 512.55 metric tons.

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

In Jhapa Rural Municipality-3, the commercial banana cultivation planted by farmers Chandra Basnet and Pooja Kharel on 12 bighas of land is estimated to have suffered damage of approximately Rs 60 lakh.

Farmers are facing further problems due to the damage to banana cultivation. The Agriculture Knowledge Center states that the possibility of farmers receiving compensation is low as most farmers have not insured their crops. In the fiscal year 2082/83, banana cultivation was done in 1,910 hectares of land in Jhapa. 388,310.2 metric tons of bananas were produced from that area.