Decades-old banana bazaar fuels rural economy of Gurudaspur 

GURUDASPUR, NATORE, Aug 14:  The traditional banana market at Nazirpur in Gurudaspur Upazila has become a major trading hub in the Chalan Beel region, with around 1,800-2,000 bunches of bananas sold daily.The nearly 30-year-old market attracts farmers and traders from different parts of Natore as well as Sirajganj, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Dhaka and Chattogram.
The market, held on scheduled days except Fridays and Saturdays, has grown into one of the largest banana trading hubs in the Chalan Beel region.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found farmers arranging banana bunches while traders negotiated prices and workers loaded produce onto trucks.
Nazirpur market lessee Nazrul Islam said large quantities of bananas arrive from six unions of Gurudaspur as well as Singra and Baraigram upazilas.
“On average, 15 to 20 truckloads of bananas are sent to different parts of the country every day,” he said.
Depending on variety, size and quality, the price of a bunch ranges from Tk 300 to Tk 1,200. A bunch usually contains 70 to 90 bananas.
According to traders, around 1,800 to 2,000 bunches are bought and sold at the market every day. At an average price of Tk 700 per bunch, daily transactions are worth around Tk 12.6 lakh to Tk 14 lakh.
Traders said the market offers good-quality bananas at relatively low costs and its convenient road connections allow produce to be transported quickly to different parts of the country. The market charges only Tk 5 per bunch in lease fees, they added.
Farmers also benefit from competition among buyers from different districts, which often helps them secure better prices than at other markets.
Aminul Islam Liton, a banana grower from Durgapur village in Biaghat union, said he has benefited from growing bananas along the banks of his fish ponds.
“After planting once, I can harvest bananas for three to four seasons. This year, I made Tk 5-6 lakh in profit after expenses from banana cultivation on 40 bighas of pond banks,” he said.
Local farmer Faruk Hossain said he planted Sagor, Amritsagar and Mehrsagar varieties on 10 bighas this year.
“About 300 to 400 saplings can be planted per bigha, and the plants start producing fruit within around a year,” he said, adding that other farmers are becoming interested in banana cultivation after seeing his success.
Zahurul Haque Sarkar, a lecturer and agriculturalist at Bilchand Shahid Samsuzzoha Government College, said the soil in the region is highly fertile.
“Besides rice, farmers are getting good yields of watermelon, melon, litchi, mango and bananas. As a result, many are increasingly turning to fruit cultivation,” he said.
Current market lessee Md Rony Hossain said the Nazirpur banana market is an important trading centre for farmers in the Chalan Beel region.
Despite its long history and growing importance, the market lacks permanent infrastructure, causing difficulties for farmers, traders and local residents.
The market is currently operated on rented private land. During the rainy season, waterlogging turns the area muddy, making it difficult for banana-laden trucks and other vehicles to move. Holding the market beside the road also causes traffic congestion.
Farmers and traders said the Nazirpur banana market plays an important role not only in Gurudaspur's economy but also in the livelihoods of thousands of farmers across the Chalan Beel region.
Gurudaspur Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Md Matiur Rahman said around 300 hectares of land have been brought under banana cultivation in the upazila this year.
“The agriculture department is providing farmers with necessary advice and support,” he said.