UP Farmers Strike Gold with Banana Cultivation: 1 Lakh Investment, 6 Lakh Return!

• Farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, are shifting from sugarcane to banana cultivation due to higher profits and lower costs.
• Banana farming offers a quick return, with the G-9 variety maturing in 13-14 months and generating 5-6 lakh rupees income from a 1 lakh rupee investment per acre.
• Despite being known as the 'sugar bowl,' farmers are seeking alternatives to sugarcane due to high costs, time consumption, and payment delays.
• Bananas from Kheri district are in high demand, supplied to states like Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• Traders directly purchase crops from farmers, ensuring good prices and boosting farmer income, with potential for further growth with government support.

Why It Matters: Banana cultivation is transforming Lakhimpur Kheri farmers' fortunes with high returns and widespread demand.