A powerful storm occurred on March 16 damaged the bananas worth more than Rs 40 million in Chitwan district.
According to Chief of National Agriculture Modernization Program Implementation Unit, Chitwan, Mahesh Regmi, storm-affected banana farms were monitored on Wednesday and Thursday. A total of 20 storm-affected banana farms monitored.
The storm caused huge damages in banana cultivated at ward no 7 and 23 of Bharatpur metropolitan city, ward no 5, 12 and 14 of Ratnanagar municipality, ward no 13 of Khairahani municipality and ward no 2 to 5 of Kalika municipality.
Regmi added that up to 88 percent bananas were damaged in some farms, adding overall the storm had caused 43.35 percent damages to bananas.
Banana is cultivated in 2,000 hectares in Chitwan.
Similarly, Coordinator of Banana Super Zone, Chitwan, Bishnu Hari said farmers engaged in commercial banana cultivation have been hit hard as they did not get compensation on time.
He mentioned that the farmers have not yet received last year's compensation and they are still unknown when they would get the compensation.
Coordinator Bishnu Hari opined that the farmers in the district have submitted applications to the insurance company demanding Rs 40 million as compensation so far.
It will take time to get accurate data of losses caused by the storm as more applications are being received and some of the farmers do not have insurance of banana cultivation, he added.
Seven hundred farmers are involved in commercial banana cultivation in the district.
.
