Farmer and entrepreneur Shah Alam Jamaddar has set an example of profitable commercial farming in Patuakhali by cultivating the high-yielding G-9 (Grand Nain) variety of banana in Dashmina upazila.
Through technology-based farming, guidance from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and integrated orchard management, Shah Alam has developed a promising model of modern and profitable agriculture.
A visit to his farm in South Ranggopaldi village under Ranggopaldi union of Dashmina found that Shah Alam has been involved in farming for nearly 25 years. Alongside conventional fruit cultivation, he became interested in cultivating new and profitable crops and decided to grow the G-9 banana variety.
He initially learned about the variety by watching agricultural videos online and later collected 100 tissue-culture saplings from a nursery in Rangpur. He now has around 150 G-9 banana plants on his farm.
According to the upazila agriculture office, Shah Alam received cash assistance, 30 G-9 banana saplings and necessary agricultural inputs under the SACP-REINS project. Field-level agriculture officials also regularly visit his farm and provide technical advice on modern cultivation practices, pest and disease management and production techniques.
Talking to BSS, Shah Alam said he had previously achieved success in cultivating different fruits, including jujube. Later, encouraged by advice from the Upazila Agriculture Extension Office and support under the SACP-REINS project, he became interested in G-9 banana cultivation.
He has planted banana saplings on nearly two acres of land, maintaining a spacing of 12 feet between plants. To ensure optimum use of the land, he has also planted mango saplings between the banana plants, creating an example of integrated orchard management.
“The main advantages of G-9 bananas are their high yield and good market price,” Shah Alam said. “The fruits are larger than those of conventional varieties, and each bunch can contain around 250 to 300 bananas.”
At present, 15 to 16 of his banana plants have started bearing fruit. He is also producing tissue-culture saplings at his own nursery and selling each sapling for at least Taka 100, creating an additional source of income.
Shah Alam said he spent around Taka 15,000 to Taka 20,000 during the initial stage of establishing the banana orchard. He is hopeful of making a significant profit if proper management is maintained and market conditions remain favorable.
According to him, G-9 banana cultivation requires comparatively less labor than many other crops. Once the plants grow larger, bamboo supports can be provided as necessary to keep them secure.
He also avoids excessive use of chemicals and applies pesticides only in limited quantities when necessary, particularly after cutting the flower stalk, to protect the fruits from pest attacks.
Shah Alam credited Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Zafar Ahmed for helping him learn about modern agricultural technologies, improved fruit varieties and profitable orchard management practices. He said regular support and advice from the agriculture department had encouraged him to take up the new venture.
Anup Kumar Shanu, a visitor to Shah Alam’s nursery, said such a well-planned and clean G-9 banana orchard was rarely seen in the area.
“I was impressed by the farm. Cultivation of modern, high-yielding banana varieties like this could encourage other farmers to adopt new farming methods,” he said.
Journalist Sanjoy Banerjee of Dashmina, who also visited the nursery, said the G-9 banana orchard was probably the first of its kind in Dashmina.
“I hope bananas produced at this farm will play a significant role in meeting the demand for bananas in Dashmina, neighboring upazilas and the southern region,” he said, wishing Shah Alam success in his initiative.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Zafar Ahmed told BSS that G-9 is a high-yielding, disease-tolerant and commercially profitable banana variety.
“Because of its high productivity, farmers can earn a good income from this variety. The agriculture department is providing Shah Alam with all necessary technical advice and support,” he said.
He added that the agriculture department was working to develop new agricultural entrepreneurs like Shah Alam in every union through the expansion of technology-based modern farming.
