Banana Farming: This farmer from Gujarat brought a revolution in banana cultivation by using modern technology and is now earning Rs 70 lakh per year

Banana Farming: Originating from the little town of Panetha in the Bharuch region of Gujarat, Dhirender Desai is a creative grower of bananas. Dhirender, who started off as a tiny farmer, has come a long way in his life and in his community. He now earns an amazing 70 lakhs a year and employs a large number of people. He has been recognized with the esteemed Magic Book of Records’ “Best Innovative Work in the Field of Agriculture” award for his inventive agricultural methods.

Dheerendra’s journey in agriculture

The Dhirender family has traditionally worked in agriculture. Dhirender made the decision to return to his agricultural origins and carry on his family’s history after finishing his matriculation in 1989. “My school was seven kilometers distant, and there was no means to get there. My whole life would have been squandered by traveling back and forth if I had kept going in that direction. I thus made the decision to support the town by joining my family’s agricultural endeavor,” he remembers.

When Dhirender started farming in 1991, he planted bananas. However, he wasn’t financially secure at the time, so he and the other villagers founded the Shree Reva Bagayat Mandal Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) after realizing the necessity for cooperation. “I joined the FPO as a supervisor, but over time, I became the chief accountant and then the organization’s director,” Dhirender said. His unwavering commitment and hard work paid off, as seen by his establishment of the district’s first ripening chamber in 2007 as part of the National Horticulture Mission.

Adopting contemporary technologies

Dhirender’s openness to adopting contemporary technologies is partly responsible for his success. He used cutting-edge methods including integrated nutrition management, tissue culture, and drip irrigation, using a balanced 70:30 ratio of inorganic to organic nutrients. In order to ensure high-quality product, he also performs deflowering bananas, a technique that lowers the chance of fungal and insect assaults. “I inject first to get rid of thrips and bugs, and then I perform deflowering, which is crucial because if we don’t, the dried flower will seep and leave a mark on the banana. After that, we utilize quality-enhancing spraying, followed by bagging and harvesting. My bananas’ quality has considerably increased thanks to this method,” Dhirender says.

Bananas of the G9 kind are grown by Dhirenbhai. The G9 variant is distinguished by its 44-46 calibration and 9-inch dimensions. In India, there is a great demand for this type.

Dheerendra created a different identity

As the only farmer in India to produce three banana crops in a span of only 26 months, Dhirender stands apart. The net revenue per acre resulting from this achievement is Rs. 16.70 lakhs. The Middle East has become a market for his bananas, and he has expanded his business by setting up a factory to produce banana chips in his village, which employs young people from the area. The profitability of banana production has been made possible by the abundance of water in surplus places such as Panetha.

Dheerendra receives his first award

Dhirender shipped bananas to five Gulf nations for the first time in 2013–14, being the first farmer from his region to do so. He has been exporting bananas to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. At the same time, he also got his first prize, the ‘Late Gauri Hi-Tech Banana Awards-2013’ export honor. Jalgaon’s Jain Irrigation Company gave him a 51,000 rupee reward. Because of the crop’s superior quality at the time, he exported 90% of the 48 tons of produce that he harvested each acre. “I knew I was headed in the right direction when I accepted my first award. That inspired him to keep moving ahead,” he says.

In addition, he has won other honors, such as the National AIFA Award, the Shri Sardar Patel Agricultural Research Award, the Excellence Award, the Best Atma Farmers Award, and the Amit Ratna Award. The Sustainable Agriculture Award 2024 is the most recent.

The first farmer to cultivate bananas using drone technology is Dhirender. His achievements have served as an inspiration to thousands of Gujarati farmers. In addition, Dhirender provides online advice to Indian farmers, sharing his knowledge and encouraging others to pursue similar opportunities.

Dhirendra Desai shares his experience

On August 7, 2024, Dhirender Desai made an appearance at KJ Chaupal at Krishi Jagran. He offered his knowledge and illuminated the audience with his creative method of growing bananas. “Every step in the process matters, from planting to harvesting, and my goal is to ensure the best quality produce,” Dhirender says.

Numerous farmers have been inspired to adopt sustainable and lucrative farming techniques by Dhirender’s story, which shows how tenacity, creativity, and community can turn an individual from a struggling worker to a prosperous farmer.