Dinajpur: A wholesale banana market at Dashmail in Kaharole upazila has become the largest banana trading hub in northern Bangladesh, with raw bananas worth around Taka one crore being sold daily. Hundreds of trucks transport these bananas to Dhaka and other regions, creating employment for several hundred workers involved in loading and unloading the produce.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Md Afzal Hossain, noted his visit to the Dashmail wholesale market on Monday, where he witnessed a significant influx of bananas. The market attracts wholesalers from outside the district daily to purchase bananas. He highlighted that Kaharole and nearby upazilas, including Birganj, Khansama, Chirirbandar, Bochaganj, Thakurgaon Sadar, and Pirganj, have land conducive to banana cultivation. The crop’s profitability has sparked growing interest among farmers in the region.
Locally produced bananas are fulfilling regional demand while being sent daily to Dhaka and other parts of the country. High market prices and increased production have motivated farmers to expand cultivation. The demand for bananas remains consistent across the country from Baishakh to Ashwin, prompting the Dashmail wholesale market to operate daily. Traders from various regions transport bananas using trucks and other vehicles.
Afzal Hossain stated that the district aimed to cultivate bananas on 5,200 hectares of land this year. However, favourable weather and strong demand have led to an additional 350 hectares being brought under banana cultivation. Kaharole Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Hafizur Rahman reported that bananas were cultivated on 542 hectares in the upazila this season, compared to 335 hectares last year, resulting in a bumper yield and good prices for farmers.
A visit to the Dashmail banana market revealed a bustling scene with farmers, traders, and wholesalers engaged in transactions throughout the day. Farmers brought their produce by vans, selling directly from them after negotiations with wholesalers. Nurul Islam Laizu, a banana grower from Gurunurpur village in Kaharole, sold 100 banana bunches for Taka 82,000 at the market, expecting to sell more from his field.
Another farmer, Abdul Ahad, sold each banana bunch for Taka 690, cultivating bananas on three and a half bighas of land. He anticipates selling bananas worth over Taka 4,50,000 if current prices persist, allowing farmers to make a substantial profit.
Md Niamul Islam, a banana trader from Dhaka, noted that high-quality bananas fetch higher prices, and he purchases three to four truckloads daily to send to Dhaka. Md Shohen Ali, a worker at the Dashmail market, mentioned that workers can earn between Taka 1,000 and Taka 1,200 daily by loading trucks.
Additional Director of the DAE’s Dinajpur regional office, agriculturist Md Riaz Uddin, stated that bananas are a profitable crop, and farmers in the region have shown increased interest in cultivating improved varieties like Meher Sagar, Malbhog, Chini Champa, and Sabri. The agricultural department provides farmers with regular technical assistance and advice, resulting in good yields and satisfactory prices for their produce.