Background:

Banana is one of the major crop of Kanyakumari district which occupies an area of 8500 ha as pure crop as well as intercrop /mixed crop in coconut /rubber/spice based cropping systems. More than 75 percent of the holdings are below one ha and the production, profit and employment derived from such small holdings are quite insufficient to sustain the dependant families.

Scope

Value added products of banana have a potential market both in the domestic and global levels. The parts of banana plant other than the fruit such as the flowers and pseudostem which generally go as waste are potential raw materials for banana value addition. Being a banana growing area, the availability of major raw materials is a boon for this enterprise.

Interventions

KVK, Kanyakumari has given vocational trainings on the aspect of value addition to farmers, farm women and rural youth. Technological knowhow regarding preparation of different products was disseminated to the trainees. An exposure visit was also arranged to Home Science College and Research Institute, Madurai. In continuation of the above programmes, a special programme on value addition in banana was conducted to the farmers and farm women in banana growing areas. A series of trainings on preparation of different value added products from banana were given to selected trainees. Finally, they were taken to Home Science College and Research Institute, Coimbatore as exposure visit to know more about value addition.  The information on marketing strategies was also provided to them.

Value added products:

• Pseudostem pickle
• Flower pickle
• Unripe fruit pickle
• Pseudostem candy
• Fruit candy
• Fruit halwa
• Fruit powder
• Flower vadagam
• Nendran chips

Process:

The banana farmers and farm women formed a group and were involved in the process of value addition. The raw materials from the farmers’ field are being utilized for making value added products. The farm women are involved in the preparation of value added products. All the products were packed in different sizes of bottles and packets and marketed.

Impact:

A banana farmer, Mr. C. Arumugam, Puthuvilai, Thalakkulam (P.O), Kanyakumari district who has attended the vocational training and the special programme trainings has successfully established a value addition enterprise. He is earning an average income of Rs. 45,000/- per month. In addition, he has given employment to 13 farm women. The products are being marketed in the name of “Kumari Farmers products” through the “Nanchil Nattu Velan Urpathialar Sangam” located at Nagercoil, which is close to the city bus stand. He is marketing the products in exhibitions also. The entrepreneur has given programmes in radio and television about the enterprise. He has also published many articles in Tamil magazines.  Mr. C. Arumugam received “Velaan Asiriyar Award- 2014” and “Uzhavar Ookuvipalar Award-2015”  of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.

Spread of the technology:

20 banana farmers have successfully formed Banana Farmers Self Help Group. Nanchil Nattu Velan Urpathialar Sangam conducts group meetings in frequent intervals about banana cultivation, value addition and marketing. Farm women who have attended the trainings are preparing the products for their household purposes and spread it to neighbourers also. The entrepreneur is giving advisory services through phone. The scope of this enterprise spreads to other districts and states also.

Contact details of the Successful Farmer:

Mr. C. Arumugam,
S/o Mr. China Nadar
Puthuvilai, Thalakkulam (P.O.)
PIN – 629 802
Kanyakumari district
Mobile: 8344021003