Former foreign worker Mohan Rana thrives in commercial banana farming in Kanchanpur

Kanchanpur: Mohan Rana of Kalagaundi, Shuklaphanta Municipality-12, who returned from foreign employment, has been successfully engaged in commercial banana farming for the past nine years.

Rana cultivates bananas on three bighas of land—two rented and one owned—and earns an annual income ranging from Rs. 1.5 million to Rs. 2 million by selling the produce. His plantation includes nine varieties of high-yielding bananas. Last year, he sold bananas worth Rs. 1.8 million. Despite unfavorable weather conditions this year, Rana is optimistic that production will surpass last year’s output. He plans to market his bananas during the high-demand festive season of Dashain and Tihar.

“The demand for bananas is high during Dashain-Tihar,” Rana explained. “Prices are also as expected, which is why we are preparing bananas for sale during this time.” Traders collect the bananas directly from the farm, paying cash on delivery. Bananas are sold wholesale at Rs. 500 to Rs. 600 per hour, with the plantation yielding more than 10 to 15 dozen bananas per hour. The cost of cultivation, including chemical fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and labor wages, amounts to approximately Rs. 400,000 annually.

Rana employs 10 to 12 seasonal workers for tasks such as weeding. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “After not finding employment at home, I worked in India for a few years and then spent three years working in Malaysia. However, I could only manage household expenses without saving. Upon returning home, I started banana farming on four kathas of land as a trial. When the yields were promising, I decided to scale up and make it a commercial venture.”

As the cultivated area expanded, his income increased accordingly. By optimizing expenses, Rana now saves about Rs. 1 million annually. Apart from occasional losses caused by wind and wild elephants, he considers banana farming less risky compared to other crops. Both Rana and his wife dedicate more than eight hours daily to maintaining the plantation.

Shuklaphanta-12 Ward Chairman Naval Singh Rana praised Mohan as a capable farmer and a model commercial banana grower in the municipality. “Mohan has not only made his family self-reliant,” he said, “but has also inspired other youth in the village.”