Kaushambi’s banana may land up in export basket

ALLAHABAD: The low-priced Kaushambi banana may find its way into country's export basket.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of the Union government has agreed to set up a ripening centre at Mandi Samiti premises in Kaushambi. As many as 2,132 farmers may get an opportunity to export G-9 variety of banana to foreign countries, including West Asia and Sri Lanka.
A two-member APEDA team arrived in Kaushambi to analyse the prospects of export and held a meeting with district officials.
District horticulture officer (Kaushambi) R S Yadav said: “The district is one the biggest centres of banana production. The crop is cultivated in around 1,785 hectare of land here.” As many as 2,132 farmers are engaged in production. Around 650 quintals of banana per hectare is produced annually. In total, around 1.16 lakh quintals is cultivated.
Kaushambi MP Vinod Sonkar has taken initiative to invite the officials of APEDA and explore the possibilities of export.
Allahabad and Kaushambi regions are known for banana cultivation. Officials claim that there was demand for G-9 variety from many states.