July 9: Banana farming is flourishing in Tikapur of Kailali district, earning handsome income for hundreds of farmers here. Tikapur of Kailali district is lately famed for banana production. The fruit is estimated to be cultivated across 1,200 hectare of land in Tikapur.    
Kalu Hamal is one of the farmers who started banana farming and now his cultivation is thriving. He shared that he started banana farming with just 10 saplings.    
Tekendra Dhami, a local banana trader, said that banana farming has been thriving in Tikapur.

"More and more farmers are being attracted to banana farming. There is no issue of market for the produces. Once cultivated, farmers can fetch good income," he said.    
Easy availability of banana saplings has also made it easier for the farmers to consider banana farming.

Dhami sold around 200,000 banana saplings last year. Bananas produced here are sent to Bardiya, Banke, Dang, Rupandehi, Pokhara and Kathmandu.    
Traders come to the banana farm and buy it there itself, said trader Raj Kumar Chaudhary.    
Furthermore, support provided from the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project Agriculture Programme Implementation Unit for banana farmers has further encouraged them in farming.    
The project provides subsidy up to 50 per cent in saplings, compost, fertilizers and agricultural tools.    
The project allocated Rs 6 million for banana farming in the current fiscal year, according to Dilip Jung Rana, information officer at the Implementation Unit. -- RSS