Sylvester41C at 11:50, 31 December 2025

2025-12-31T11:50:45Z

New page

{{Short description|Type of banana variety from Maharashtra, India}}
{{Infobox geographical indication
| name = Jalgaon banana (जळगावची केळी)<ref>{{cite news |title=जळगावच्या केळीचा आखाती देशात गोडवा; यंदा होणार विक्रमी निर्यात |url=https://marathi.indiatimes.com/maharashtra/jalgaon-news/banana-export-jalgaon-district-will-export-10-thousand-containers-to-gulf-countries/articleshow/112153564.cms |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Maharashtra Times |language=mr}}</ref>
| image = Jalgaon Banana Bunch closeup.jpg
| alt = Jalgaon Banana Bunch close-up
| caption = Jalgaon Banana Bunch close-up
| alternative names = जळगावची केळी
| description =Jalgaon banana is a banana variety cultivated in [[Maharashtra]]
| type =Banana
| area = Jalgaon district
| country = [[India]]
| registered = 30 October 2016
| material =
| official website ={{URL|https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GirPublic/Application/Details/498|ipindia.gov.in}}}}

'''Jalgaon banana''' is a variety of [[banana]] grown in the [[State of India|Indian state]] of [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite news |title=World Banana Day 2024: Banana Growers in Maharashtra Demand 'Fruit' Status |url=https://www.lokmattimes.com/maharashtra/world-banana-day-2024-banana-growers-in-maharashtra-demand-fruit-status-a514/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Lokmat Times}}</ref> It is a common and widely cultivated crop in [[Jalgaon district]] located in the [[Khandesh]] region of North Maharashtra. Under its [[Geographical Indications in India|Geographical Indication]] tag, it is referred to as "Jalgaon Banana".<ref name=":7" />

==Name==
Jalgaon banana is a prized crop in [[Jalgaon]] and so named after it. Jalgaon is known as the "Banana Capital" of India, and is the world's seventh largest [[banana]] producer contributing 16% of the India's banana production. The district accounts for 69% of [[Maharashtra]]'s banana production area and 61% of its production.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doing what’s kneadful to save bananas |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/doing-what-s-kneadful-to-save-bananas/ar-BB1meyxR?ocid=BingNewsSearch&apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1 |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=MSN}}</ref> Despite high summer temperatures, the presence of the [[Satpura Range|Satpuda Mountains]] and [[Tapti River|Tapi River]] makes Jalgaon suitable for banana cultivation, as it is a water-loving crop.

==Description==
Banana cultivation in Jalgaon began in the year 1925. Soldiers from the [[Maratha Confederacy|Maratha]] armies of [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] brought the fruit from the [[Konkan]] region while conquering the states in the south.<ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Jalgaon Banana |url=https://ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/Journal_146.pdf |website=Intellectual Property India |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref> Initially, Jalgaon's dry weather was a disadvantage. However, the introduction of drip irrigation enabled efficient water use, and now the entire 48,000-hectare banana cultivation area uses this method.<ref>{{cite news |title=How Jalgaon, ‘Banana City of India’, is fast becoming the ‘Banana Republic’ |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/how-jalgaon-banana-city-of-india-is-fast-becoming-the-banana-republic/1210358/ |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Financialexpress |date=18 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

Bananas from Khandesh, where Jalgaon is located, are famous for their unique taste. The "Shrimanti" variety is in high demand across the country for its taste and quality.<ref name=":7"/> The region grows several banana varieties, including [[Dwarf Cavendish banana|Dwarf Cavendish]], Robusta, [[Grand Nain]]e, Madhukar and Shrimanti.<ref>{{cite book |title=Agricultural Situation in India |date=2004 |publisher=Manager of Publications, Civil Lines. |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Agricultural_Situation_in_India/k1Q9AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=jalgaon+banana+shrimanti&dq=jalgaon+banana+shrimanti&printsec=frontcover |access-date=16 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The 'Basrai' variety, mainly grown in Jalgaon, has a distinct flavor and yields 43-63 tonnes per hectare.<ref>{{cite book |title=People's Raj |date=1983 |publisher=Directorate-General of Information and Public Relations. |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/People_s_Raj/oB0RVKCFnXIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Basrai++jalgaon&dq=Basrai++jalgaon&printsec=frontcover |access-date=16 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

Jalgaon bananas are exported to [[Delhi]], [[Mumbai]], [[Agra]], [[Jhansi]] etc. and also to countries like [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]].<ref>{{cite news |title=India starts exporting GI-certified Jalgaon banana to Dubai |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-starts-exporting-gi-certified-jalgaon-banana-to-dubai-11623830879985.html |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=mint |date=16 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=BHARAMBE |first1=Dr SANJAY N. |title=AGRICULTURAL LAND UTILIZATION AND POPULATION CHANGES IN JALGAON DISTRICT (MAHARASHTRA) : A GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-365-24747-7 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/AGRICULTURAL_LAND_UTILIZATION_AND_POPULA/mlveDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=jalgaon+banana+export+delhi&pg=PA42&printsec=frontcover |access-date=16 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The "Horticulture Train" plays a crucial role in this, carrying over 1,000 tonnes of bananas from [[Bhusawal]] to Delhi.<ref>{{cite news |title=India all set to get its first horticulture train |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/india-all-set-to-get-its-first-horticulture-train/story-qienu2XxNsq78ObiSjdEwL.html |access-date=17 December 2024 |agency=Hindustan Times}}</ref> This specially designed train has ventilated containers, reducing transportation and storage costs for traders and farmers, and minimizing wastage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lok Sabha elections 2024: Raver-Delhi banana train resumes services after 7 months |url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/lok-sabha-elections-2024-raver-delhi-banana-train-resumes-services-after-7-years-23347873 |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Mid-day |date=7 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Photo Gallery==
Actual photos from a Jalgaon Banana farmer from Adgaon.
<gallery>
File:Jalgaon Banana plant ar a farm at Adgaon.jpg|Jalgaon Banana plant ar a farm at Adgaon
File:Jalgaon Banana with Flower closeup.jpg|Jalgaon Banana with Flower closeup
File:Jalgaon Banana Farm at Adgaon in Jalgaon.jpg|Jalgaon Banana Farm at Adgaon in Jalgaon
File:Another photo of Jalgaon Banana Farm at Adgaon in Jalgaon.jpg|Another photo of Jalgaon Banana Farm at Adgaon in Jalgaon
</gallery>

==Geographical indication==
It was awarded the [[List of geographical indications in India|Geographical Indication]] (GI) status tag from the [[Geographical Indication Registry (India)|Geographical Indications Registry]], under the [[Government of India|Union Government of India]], on 30 October 2016 and is valid until 29 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jalgaon banana |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/498 |website=Intellectual Property India |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jadhav |first1=Radheshyam |title=Jalgaon farmers export GI-certified banana to Dubai |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/jalgaon-farmers-export-gi-certified-banana-to-dubai/article34829348.ece |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=BusinessLine |date=16 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Nisargraja Krushi Vidnyan Kendra from Jalgaon, proposed the GI registration of Jalgaon banana.<ref>{{cite news |title=GI-certified Jalgaon bananas exported to Dubai |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/gi-certified-jalgaon-bananas-exported-to-dubai-998241.html |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> After filing the application in August 2014, the banana was granted the GI tag in 2016 by the Geographical Indication Registry in [[Chennai]], making the name "Jalgaon Banana" exclusive to the bananas grown in the region. It thus became the first banana variety from Maharashtra and the 28th type of goods from Maharashtra to earn the GI tag.

The GI tag protects the banana from illegal selling and marketing, and gives it legal protection and a unique identity.

==See also==
*[[Jalgaon Bharit Brinjal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Bananas]]
[[Category:Banana cultivars]]
[[Category:Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Maharashtrian cuisine]]
[[Category:GI Tagged banana varieties of India]]
[[Category:Economy of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Jalgaon district]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in Maharashtra]]

Jalgaon banana - Revision history

Sylvester41C at 11:50, 31 December 2025