Cultivating prosperity in Mirzapur
The Banana Value Chain Project in Sikhar block, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, is one of Jugalbandi’s flagship initiatives, aimed at transforming the lives of small and marginal farmers through sustainable agriculture, improved market access, and enterprise development. Implemented in partnership with SRIJAN and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), this intervention is a model of integrated value chain development.
Farmer-centric approach
Each step in the process—from land layout and pit digging to plantation and training—has been co-designed with farmers. Field staff and agri-experts have been embedded at the ground level to provide continuous technical support. Over 300 farmers have already joined the initiative, with many cultivating 1–2.5 acres under banana.
Banana cultivation in Mirzapur faced several systemic issues
Low productivity (average 20 MT/ha) due to poor planting materials and outdated practices. High input cost (₹30,000/acre) and erratic supply of quality banana saplings. Limited market participation, with farmers receiving only 30% of the end-market price. These bottlenecks restricted farmer income and made banana farming unsustainable despite its potential.
- Increase farmer income by ₹1.5 lakh per hectare per year.
- Establish a banana secondary hardening centre with a 2-lakh plant capacity to reduce planting costs and improve access to quality material.
- Pilot banana chips micro-enterprises with Producer Groups.
- Train and mobilize over 2,000 farmers, enhancing their technical knowledge and linking them with formal markets.
- Promote bio-input-based farming with at least 100 farmers.
To address these gaps, Jugalbandi designed a comprehensive, multi-layered value chain model with the following objectives:
Expected outcomes
- Increased income: Average net gain of ₹1.5 lakh per acre annually.
- Environmental benefits: Reduced pesticide use, improved water use, and organic input adoption.
- Producer-led business models: Sustainable FPOs driving plantation, input management, and processing.
- Market integration: Direct farmer access to buyers, reducing dependency on middlemen.