Facing crisis, sugarcane farmers in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri shift to banana cultivation
Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh), February 22: Several sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh are shifting to banana cultivation. Payment delays and rising input costs in sugarcane cultivation are to be blamed, forcing farmers to switch to the banana plantation in the sugarcane-ruled area.
Over 35 lakh farmers roughly are estimated to be engaged in sugarcane cultivation, however, the farmers after opting for banana plantation have noted satisfaction with the profit margins.
Nearly 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land in the Lakhimpur Kheri district is used for banana cultivation, which produces two types of bananas - G9 and Cadila. Currently, Uttar Pradesh is engaged in more than 68000 hectares of banana cultivation and every year produces over 30 metric tonnes of bananas.
Lakhimpur Kheri leads in banana cultivation, followed by Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Allahabad and Kaushambi.
According to the farmers, the cost of fertilisers for sugarcane is roughly Rs 5,000 per acre, while the cost of banana plant cultivation is Rs 15,000 per year, but the profit is significantly more.
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Furthermore, sugarcane farmers who took out a loan or arranged money for sugarcane say that they had to wait a year or more for even small payments of Rs 25,000, making it impossible to survive. As a result, bananas become their sole alternative, as the result and profit are immediate, according to the farmers.
Sone Lal, a sugarcane farmer who switched to banana cultivation, said, "Sugarcane's only problem is that payments are late. As a result, bananas became our sole alternative for immediate results and profit."
The villages of Semeisa, Persia, Lakhun, Amitiya, and Behta in Lakhimpur Kheri have become banana plantation centre. Sesaiya, Shnkarpur and over 35 villages have also switched from sugarcane to banana plantations.
According to the farmers, more than 100 villages would have a full-fledged banana plantation within a year.
However, sugarcane mills have begun clearing long-overdue dues from sugarcane farmers as a result of the rapid shift in banana plantations.
Pramod Kumar, a former sugarcane farmer, who had launched a successful Start-up of banana fibre stated, "I have started this since last year. Our BDO Arun Kumar Singh introduced us to the idea and helped us in getting the machines from Gujarat which cost Rs 2 lakhs."
Pramod is currently engaging women in Samaisa through the "Ma Saraswati self-help group (SHG)" in the production of banana fibre from the stem. He also mentioned that women receive a portion of the profit margin.
"Women get Rs 300 each and also at times they get a share of profit which varies around Rs 400 to 500 per kg. The cost of producing per kg fibre is Rs 100 to 110 and is sold for Rs 180 to 200 per kg. The fibre amounts to Rs 20,000 per quintal," he added.
Lakhimpur Kheri exported 20 metric tonnes of bananas to Iran in October of last year.
On February 23, the district will go to the polls.
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-PTC News
