VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF BANANA IN SOME AREAS OF NARSINGDI DISTRICT

Abstract

The present study was designed to measure value chain analysis of Banana in selected area of Narsingdi District. Primary data were collected from the Banana growing area of Shibpur and Manohordi under Narsingdi district. Thirty farmers and thirty traders were selected through convenience sampling procedure. Simple descriptive methods were used to analyze the data. Among many cultivars Champa (Apple Banana) had been selected for this research work. The major findings of the study revealed that Banana production was profitable. In the production and marketing system of Banana, many value chain actors were involved such as Faria, Bepari, Arathdar, wholesaler and retailer. Demographic characteristics of Banana farmers were categorized into age, education, farming experience, farm size and family size. In this study, it was found that young and illiterate farmers were mostly engaged in Banana cultivation. Farming experience of Banana farmers ranged from 2 to above 20 years. Farm gate price of banana received by farmers per Bunch was Tk. 450 and purchase price per Bunch of banana paid by retailers was Tk. 680. Average sales price per Bunch of banana as received by retailer was Tk. 720. The total marketing cost was estimated at Tk. 184 per Bunch of banana. Among all intermediaries wholesalers’ cost were highest and the lowest for Arathdar. The net marketing margin of per Bunch banana of Farmer, Faria, Bepari, Arathder, Wholesalers and Retailers were Tk. 33, 20, 7, 2, 10 and 14 respectively. The value addition of banana in value chain for Farmers, Faria, Bepari, Arathder, Wholesalers and Retailers were respectively 11.11, 10.00, 9.09, 2.5, 10.57 and 5.88 percent for per Bunch of banana. The study identified some major problems faced by the actors in the banana value chain. The major problems faced by them included lack of capital, lack of good quality sucker, lack of subsidy, lack of availability of adequate input, lower price of banana, transportation problem, shortage of market and storage facilities and dominance of value chain actors. Some recommendations are given to solve the constraints. The Government should provide credit facilities through Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and other commercial banks. Adequate amount of inputs including HYV suckers should be supplied by the government at subsidized prices in the Banana producing areas. Transportation facilities should be improved in the study areas. Low cost storage facilities should be developed at the primary and secondary markets by the local Government authority.