Sambalpur: After watermelons and mangoes, now the banana of the district is set to reach Delhi markets.

"Ground work for banana marketing is in the process. Banana of remote tribal areas of Kuchinda sub-division will be collected, packed and dispatched to Delhi. It will be marketed by Mother Dairy in its various outlets in Delhi as per an agreement," assistant director of Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (Ormas) Srimanta Hota told The Telegraph.

Procurement manager of Mother Dairy T.C. Sharma visited various banana fields of Bamra and Kuchinda blocks recently to study the quality and varieties of the produces and had discussions with the local farmers.

The first consignment of bananas will be sent to Delhi shortly. A storage-cum-packing centre for the purpose has also come up at Bareipali in the town. Kuchinda, Bamra and Jamenkera blocks are known for large-scale banana cultivation. More than 10,000 quintals of bananas are being cultivated on 5,000 hectares in these areas.

On March 23, a consignment of 15.5 tonnes of watermelon was collected from two cultivators of Dhulipali village in Jujomura block and dispatched to Delhi for the first time.

"As the taste of Sambalpur's watermelon was good, the buyers in Delhi have liked fruits. It has already earned a good reputation. We hope that it will capture and dominate the market in Delhi next year," Hota said.

Similarly, 6.80 quintals of mangoes of various varieties was sent to Delhi by Hirakud Express from Sambalpur railway station on May 28.

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