Pune plans to significantly expand banana plantations

Pune's district agriculture office plans to expand banana plantations significantly. They aim to increase the cultivation area from 611 hectares to 3,000 hectares. Currently, the district produces about 67,600 tonnes of bananas each year. The goal is to raise this to 200,000 tonnes in the next five years. To support this expansion, the agriculture office will encourage farmers through various initiatives. Sanjay Kachole, the district agriculture officer, stated that they will use new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve banana yields. The target is to boost production from 42 tonnes to 65 tonnes per hectare. The primary areas for banana cultivation in Pune are Indapur, Baramati, and Daund. Additional pockets exist in Ambegaon and Junnar. The administration plans to create clusters for banana cultivation to enhance infrastructure. This includes advanced warehouses where bananas can be checked for export quality before shipping. Maharashtra's Solapur district is a leading exporter of bananas. The Ujani dam's water availability supports production in Karmala and Madha tehsils. Major export destinations include countries like Iran, Iraq, and the UAE. India also has potential markets in the US, UK, and several other nations. Farmers like Ramesh Khartode emphasize the need for support from authorities. Many farmers are unfamiliar with the export process and require guidance and assurance of good prices. Activists suggest that expert guidance from initial planting to export is crucial for success. Financial assistance for technology is also needed to help farmers. Banana is a key horticultural crop in India, with Andhra Pradesh as the largest producer. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh follow, together contributing over 60% of the nation’s banana production.