Bananas worth Rs 40 million have been imported from India to Janakpurdham, the capital of Madhes province, solely for the Chhath festival. Demand for bananas is high during Chhath and the local supply is insufficient to meet this demand, necessitating annual imports, according to Bishweshwar Yadav, president of the Janakpur Fruits and Vegetables Traders' Committee.
Despite the fertile soil in the Tarai-Madhes region of Nepal being suitable for banana cultivation, local production falls short of meeting the increasing demand each year. Yadav stated: “Last year, bananas worth Rs 17.5 million were imported to Janakpur. This year, nearly 70 truckloads of bananas have entered the provincial capital.”
Source: thehimalayantimes.com