Due to good production and quality of banana in Purvanchal and Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, it is in demand not only in the country but even in friendly nation Nepal. Only then will the banana crop prove to be a change in the fortunes of the farmers of the state in the coming years. The biggest benefit of this will be to the farmers of those districts where bananas are being cultivated in large quantities. The biggest benefit of this will be given to those farmers of various districts like Kushinagar, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi and Barabanki included in Purvanchal and Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, who have been doing this for the last one and a half decade i.e. about 15 years. Are cultivating bananas. The quality of bananas of these farmers is also good.
It is being seen that the Food Products Export Processing Authority of the Center is preparing a pilot project to increase the export of about one and a half dozen products of fruits and vegetables including banana, mango, potato, pomegranate and grapes through sea route. Because during the seven-year tenure of the Yogi government, the connectivity of UP has become of global level through expressways, airways and rail services. The government is trying to make it better. In such a situation, being land locked does not matter much for the progress of UP. At present, the farmers of UP will benefit the most from the Centre’s initiative. Because the state government has already been encouraging banana farming.
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Kushinagar banana is included in ODOP
Kushinagar has been declared ODOP (One District, One Product) in banana production about 6 years ago. Not only banana cultivation is being done here, but many self-help groups are processing many banana products i.e. juice, chips, flour, pickles etc. and also many products from banana fiber (all kinds of purses, yoga mats, carpets) They are earning money by making puja seats, slippers, caps, bouquets, pen stands etc. People of Kushinagar also participated in the International Trade Show organized by Yogi Government in Greater Noida. Their products were very much liked here. Apart from this, the government is also giving a subsidy of about Rs 38 thousand per hectare on banana cultivation.
A team of scientists led by the Director of Central Subtropical Horticulture Institute, Rehman Kheda, Lucknow, belonging to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, constantly visits banana producing areas and monitors the outbreak of diseases and pests in the crop. Agricultural Science Centers of the districts also continuously inform the farmers about the safety and security of the crops.
The country is the world’s largest banana producer
According to APEDA data, India is the largest banana producing country in the world. According to the data received from the Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, it is cultivated in about 9,61,000 hectares of land in India with a production of about 3.5 crore metric tons. According to APEDA, India’s share in global production is about 30 percent, but India’s share in global exports of about Rs 16 billion is only one percent.