Uttar Pradesh: Kushinagar bananas, grown in the revered land of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana and designated as a One District One Product (ODOP) by the Yogi government, have captivated taste buds from Punjab to Kashmir.
From Uttar Pradesh to Bihar and Nepal: Kushinagar bananas gain widespread popularity
These sweet bananas are distributed widely to major cities such as Delhi, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Bhatinda. Their popularity extends beyond Uttar Pradesh, with strong demand across all districts of the Gorakhpur division, as well as in Kanpur, Nepal, and Bihar, where they enjoy a dedicated fan base.
According to Ashok Rai, in charge of the Kushinagar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, affiliated to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, local farmers grow bananas for both fruit and vegetable purposes, with 70% of the cultivation area dedicated to fruits and 30% to vegetables.
The G-9 variety is most popular for consumption, while Robusta is preferred for vegetable use. Banana cultivation covers around 16,000 hectares in the district.
Notably, banana cultivation and processing has surged in Kushinagar with the ODOP status granted to it by the Uttar Pradesh government. Voluntary organizations are producing banana juice, chips, flour, pickles, and even products like mats, baskets, and slippers made from banana fiber. These products are seeing growing demand and enthusiasm.
Ashok Rai explains that in 2007, banana cultivation in Kushinagar was limited to just 500 hectares. Today, it has expanded 32 times to nearly 16,000 hectares with the ODOP designation. Additionally, the government subsidies approximately Rs 31,000 per hectare to farmers for cultivating bananas.
Kushinagar, part of the Gorakhpur division, has a major market for fruits and vegetables. Initially, only a few farmers from Kushinagar would bring their bananas to sell in this market. Due to the high quality of the fruit, some traders from Gorakhpur began purchasing bananas directly from the farms in Kushinagar.
The bananas are being supplied to Delhi, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Bhatinda
These traders, who had established connections with counterparts in Kashmir, Punjab, and Delhi to trade apples, kinnow, and other produce, helped spread the fame of Kushinagar bananas to distant markets. Today, Kushinagar bananas are supplied to major cities, including Kashmir, Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Kanpur, Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut.
Noticing the increasing interest of local farmers in banana cultivation, former District Magistrate Umesh Mishra initiated efforts to grant banana farming the status of an industry. He convened meetings with bankers and directed them to offer easy loans to banana growers through various central and state government schemes.
Murlidhar Dixit from Sirsiyan Dixit and Mrityunjay Mishra from Bharwalia are prominent banana farmers whose produce is distributed to major cities across the state and country through commission agents. According to them, the peak season for banana sales is just before Navratri, driven by the festive demand.
Banana farming is labor-intensive. The process involves digging pits for planting, applying fertilizers, planting saplings, regular irrigation, crop protection, and harvesting of ripe fruit. Additionally, the tasks of loading, unloading, and transporting the produce generate significant employment opportunities.
Dr S.P. Singh, a vegetable scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Belipar (Gorakhpur), advises that the ideal time for planting bananas is in February or during July-August. To minimize risks, farmers cultivating on a large scale are advised to plant in both seasons.
