Prakash Ghosh Bidhan, Paikgachha: G-Nine banana cultivation has gained wide commercial popularity in Bangladesh and farmers in different parts of the country are getting tremendous success in it. This improved variety of banana plant, produced through tissue culture, has already become popular among farmers in different parts of the country due to its high yield in a short time, low disease and easy storage of bananas.
Farmers in various places including Gopalpur, Motbati, Gadaipur in Paikgachha of Khulna are benefiting from cultivating this banana using tissue culture method with the help of agricultural offices and nurseries. G-Nine banana is being cultivated by creating home courtyards and banana fields. Narayan Adhikari of Gopalpur village next to Notun Bazar of the upazila has cultivated G-Nine banana on about two hundred acres of land in his home courtyard and has made a splash in the area. Seeing him, many people are becoming interested in cultivating G-Nine banana.
Each tree produces about 30 kg or more of fruit. The fruit or mocha starts to come within just 7 months of planting and the banana becomes ready to be cut and sold in the market within 9 to 11 months. The fruit is obtained in a much shorter time than the common banana variety. This variety can tolerate diseases, pests and decay quite well.
Bananas are large, long, golden-green in color, and firm and fleshy, so they are in demand not only in the local market but also in the international market. Farmers are earning almost double the profit compared to any other conventional banana cultivation.
Paikgachha Upazila Agriculture Officer Ekramul Hossain said, “Although the G-9 variety of banana is relatively new in the country, it is popular in various countries of the world. Many farmers are already contacting the Agriculture Office about cultivating this variety of banana. The Agriculture Office is providing necessary technical assistance and advice.”