The cultivated area of banana in Pakistan has exceeded 34,830 hectares and the production has exceeded 154,935 tons, with Sindh producing 127,426 tons and Punjab producing 9,573 tons. According to media reports, Agriculture and Fruit Economist Ari Faisalabad Ishaq Javed, high varieties of banana can be cultivated very successfully in hot humid areas where there is no haze and the plants are protected from hot weather. Rainfall up to 2,500 millimeters, temperatures between 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in winter and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius in summer can produce excellent banana production.

Javed said that since the roots of the banana plant go to a shallow depth, it needs enough water and fertile soil that has the ability to absorb water well. He said that the growth of banana can be done from rhizome pieces and rootstocks. He said that gardeners should keep the distance between plants from 1.5 to 2.5 meters and the number of plants per acre should be kept from 676 to 764. He said that gardeners should consult agronomists for further guidance.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)