Char farmers rewrite fate

Banana farming has become the main source of income for flood affected char people along the Dharla river in Sadar upazila for the last few years.

Flood victim Nur Mohammad of Char Sonagazi said more than 3000 banana trees on his three acres of land were fully damaged by this year's floods. He spent Tk two lakh for farming the fruit.

“After the flood, I have planted banana trees on the affected sandy char land of the Dharla,” Nur said, adding that he is trying to recoup his loss.

“We have been farming Malbhog variety of banana on our char lands for the last few years and most of the char people now depend on the farming here,” said another flood affected farmer Sultan Hossain of the same area.

Farmer Nuruzzaman Miah of Char Folimari said banana trees worth about Tk 3 lakh on six acres were damaged fully by the flood.

“I have already planted banana plants on the flood affected orchards and earned Tk 1.20 lakh to Tk 1.50 lakh from one acre of land by spending Tk 65 to Tk 70 thousand per acre. We never face marketing difficulty in selling bananas as buyers come to our doors,” he said.

Banana farming areas are Char Khatamari, Char Kharuya, Char Sonagazi, Char Shiberkuti, Char Jatin, Madhya Char, Char Gorokmandol, Char Folimari, Char Banshpochai, Char Nuton and Char Bowalmari in Lalmonirhat Sadar.

Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Enamul Haque said the fertile sandy soil in char areas of the Dharla is very favourable for banana farming here. Around 80 percent demand for banana in the district is fulfilled from the char areas.