Farmer Ashok Gade from Maharashtra’s Jalgaon has innovated and patented his banana biscuits, using 50 different farmers and incomes triple the revenue.

Situated on the northern fringe of the Deccan Plateau, Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district is wealthy in volcanic soil and is a significant enterprise centre for cotton and bananas. Usually tagged because the Banana Metropolis of India, Jalgaon produces 3.4 million tonnes of bananas and accounts for 70 % of Maharashtra’s banana manufacturing and greater than 11 % of that of India.

Regardless of these noteworthy statistics, banana cultivation stays an unprofitable enterprise for numerous farmers.

“Each time we tried promoting our produce, we all the time incurred losses. We regularly questioned why banana farming shouldn’t be worthwhile. The one motive we might consider was its shelf life,” Ashok Gade (65) tells The Higher India.

“As soon as sown, we are able to harvest bananas solely after a 12 months. The harvesting interval is about 28 days. It prices us about Rs 150 to supply one jhaad [roughly 15 kg bunch] of bananas whereas we earn solely Rs 1,000 for a quintal [100 kg] of the produce — virtually the identical as the price of cultivation. We now have even bought bananas for Rs 1.25 per kg. Because the area produces bananas in bulk, we get low costs amid large provide. The market costs additionally preserve fluctuating,” he provides.

The farmer additionally factors out that since bananas are a perishable commodity, they can’t inventory the produce. “Farmers have to promote bananas as quickly as potential. And if the produce begins ripening, we’re pressured to promote at throwaway costs. Usually we watch our hard-grown produce rot within the subject,” says Ashok.

So, as a substitute of promoting banana fruits straight within the unstable market, Ashok and his spouse Kusum got here up with an concept to extend the shelf lifetime of the produce by processing the banana fruits into potential value-added merchandise. At present, the couple manufactures banana merchandise like banana chips, jam, candies, papad, chivda (flattened banana), and laddu.

Apparently, the couple has additionally innovated biscuits out of bananas. And in April this 12 months, the Central Authorities granted them a patent for his or her banana biscuits.

Stop legislation to develop into a farmer

Born into an agricultural household in Yawal taluka, Ashok studied legislation in Jalgaon. After graduating with an LLB, he practised legislation for about 5 years. Nevertheless, he needed to stop his follow in 1990 after his father handed away.

“For generations, now we have been cultivating bananas. After my father’s loss of life, the complete duty of managing the farm stumbled on me. I needed to stop legislation regardless of my curiosity in it,” says Ashok, who owns an agricultural land of 12.5 acres.

Amid excessive enter prices and low profitability, the progressive farmer determined to course of bananas into value-added merchandise like banana flour, jam, and laddus. “I didn’t be taught this method from anyplace, so we continued to experiment with bananas. Finally, through the processing, we innovated biscuits out of bananas. We used banana, ghee, and sugar to make these biscuits,” says the 65-year-old with out revealing their secret processing technique!

For the final three years, Ashok and his spouse have been manufacturing and promoting these banana biscuits regionally. Not too long ago, they acquired a patent from the Central Authorities for a similar. This patent permits them the appropriate to cease others from copying their invention with out their permission.

“We wished to maintain our invention secured as it’s our baudhik sampada (mental property). After we earned the patent, the demand for our product elevated and we additionally earned recognition,” he says.

How value-addition helps farmers

Priced at Rs 400–500 per kg within the wholesale and retail market respectively, these banana biscuits have fetched the couple as much as 4 occasions earnings.

At present, the couple sells between 60 and 100 kg of banana biscuits in every week and earns an annual income of Rs 25 lakh by on-line marketplaces like Fb and offline exhibitions.

Their banana biscuits have discovered consumers not solely in Maharashtra but additionally in West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, and Delhi. “This patent can even enable us to increase our market to different international locations as nicely,” says Ashok.

Considered one of their common clients, Nilimi Divakar tells The Higher India, “The biscuits that we get out there include maida (refined wheat flour) which isn’t good for well being. We wished to change to more healthy options. That’s after we discovered about these banana biscuits. As bananas are wealthy in calcium, I supply these biscuits to my children. Apart from the well being advantages, these biscuits are additionally good in style.”

Apart from the rising demand because of the patent, Ashok is glad to have been in a position to profit farmers like him. “We’re getting extra orders and to have the ability to fulfill the demand, I’ve collaborated with 50 different banana farmers within the village,” he provides.

The couple has additionally established a producing unit ‘Sankalp Enterprises’ unfold throughout an space of 1,000 sq toes. “We bought equipment from Indore and Kolhapur and invested about Rs 30 to 40 lakhs in establishing the unit. Due to the rising demand, now we have fully converted to processing the bananas. We don’t promote uncooked bananas anymore,” smiles Ashok.

Supply:

How Jalgaon, ‘Banana Metropolis of India’, is quick changing into the ‘Banana Republic’: Printed by Monetary Categorical on 18 June 2018.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All images: Ashok Gade.