Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare announced the approval of a ₹200-crore Banana Cluster project in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, to strengthen the horticulture value chain. This project is part of a broader government strategy to improve farmer income and export competitiveness through dedicated clusters. It includes infrastructure development like cold storage, ripeners, and export facilities, with subsidies under the MIDH and AIF.
Key Details of Banana Cluster Initiative:
- Location: Jalgaon, Maharashtra, known as the “Banana City,” which holds high significance in India’s horticulture sector.
- Purpose: To improve production, post-harvest infrastructure, processing, and export of bananas.
- Key Components: The initiative focuses on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), mechanization, bio-control, fruit covering, and pre-cooling, along with logistical support like refrigerated vans.
- Support Schemes: Subsidies will be provided through the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
- Impact: The project aims to boost farmers’ income and enhance the quality of banana exports
Key Banana Clusters in India
Several districts have been identified or notified as banana clusters under different government schemes:
- Jalgaon (Maharashtra): Recently approved with a ₹199.99 crore allocation to enhance production, post-harvest infrastructure, and processing.
- Ananthapur (Andhra Pradesh): Selected as a pilot cluster under the Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (HCDP) to benefit approximately 14,000 farmers.
- Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh): Notified alongside Ananthapur under the Agri Export Policy to promote high-quality production for international markets.
- Theni (Tamil Nadu): Identified as one of the 12 pilot clusters for the launch of the HCDP.
- Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh): Identified under the Operation Greens component of PMKSY and recognized as a One District One Product (ODOP).
Objectives of the Cluster Development Programme
The programme, implemented through the National Horticulture Board (NHB), aims to:
- Integrated Infrastructure: Establish facilities for pre-cooling, cold storage, ripening chambers, and refrigerated transport.
- Quality Improvement: Promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), mechanisation, and the use of healthy tissue-cultured plantlets.
- Market & Export Boost: Increase export share by 20-25% and create cluster-specific brands to enhance global competitiveness.
- Financial Support: Leverage subsidies from the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).