Despite the festive season, bananas grown in Bardiya have faced slow sales, with farmers reporting continued pressure from Indian imports undermining demand for domestic produce.
Bananas are cultivated on nearly 500 hectares in Bardiya, but farmers said only around 250 hectares' worth of production has been sold so far. In previous years, traders visited farms ahead of Dashain to purchase the fruit. This year, even when farmers approached traders directly, sales remained sluggish.
"Last year, traders paid up to Rs600 (US$7.20) per crate during Dashain, sometimes for as many as 10 dozen bananas," said Toplal BK, Chairman of the Bardiya Banana Entrepreneurs' Association. "But this year, farmers are pleading with traders and selling for as little as Rs200 to Rs350 (US$2.40–4.20) per crate. Lots of bananas will rot in the fields."
Banana trader Shambhu Prasad Adhikari confirmed sales were lower compared to last year and added that the Gen Z protest had also affected the market. He warned that if bananas remain unsold until Tihar, farmers' investments could collapse.
Bardiya has been emerging as a banana hub under the Banana Zone Programme, with production of around 15,000 metric tonnes annually. Nearly 700 households are engaged in banana farming, generating an estimated Rs400 million (US$4.8 million) in yearly transactions. Farmers have also adopted modern methods, including ripening and storage chambers, tissue-culture nurseries, and fiber-extraction facilities.
Farmers said that without effective market management and stricter controls on Indian banana imports, they fear local production will continue to face difficulties in reaching the domestic market.
Source: The Rising Nepal
