Farmers in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, are increasingly adopting organic farming practices for banana cultivation. Notably, farmers along the banks of the Ganga River are also engaging in horticulture.

As part of the 'Namami Gange' project, there is a growing trend among farmers in the Prayagraj region to utilise organic farming methods, driven by efforts to reduce the excessive use of chemicals and pesticides. 

Dayaram Maurya, a member of the Banana Growers' Association, highlights that the overuse of chemical fertilisers in the Ganga basin has been steadily depleting soil fertility. As a result, farmers in the riverbank areas are making significant shifts towards organic banana cultivation.

The state government is actively promoting banana farming along both banks of the river, covering approximately 5 kilometres, as part of its broader mission to clean up the Ganga River. 

Awadhesh Mishra, the district horticulture officer for Kaushambi, reports that these efforts are already showing positive outcomes. This year, farmers began organic banana cultivation on about 50 hectares within the Ganga basin.

Kaushambi, often referred to as 'Mini Bhusawal,' is home to over 2,500 farmers who earn substantial income from banana cultivation. Currently, banana farming is being carried out on approximately 5,800 hectares in the district. The expansion of banana farming in the alluvial floodplains of the Ganga is expected to provide dual benefits: increasing the total area dedicated to banana cultivation and significantly improving soil health.

A state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory has been established in Chilla Sahwaji village at a cost exceeding Rs 2 crore. This laboratory is set to play a crucial role in supporting agricultural initiatives within the district. Previously, banana-growing farmers faced significant challenges in obtaining tissue-culture-raised saplings. Frequent delays in the delivery of these saplings from Maharashtra, West Bengal, and other states often resulted in the loss of crops worth lakhs of rupees.

To address this issue, the new laboratory in Chilla Sahwaji village utilises modern technology to produce high-quality tissue-culture banana saplings. As a result, banana-producing farmers in the Kaushambi district, as well as those in neighbouring areas, are now receiving these saplings promptly.