Lakhimpur Kheri Farmers Quit Sugarcane for ₹6 Lakh Banana Profit

• Farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district are shifting from traditional sugarcane cultivation to highly profitable banana farming.
• Banana cultivation, particularly the G-9 variety, offers a quick harvest in 13-14 months and a potential profit of ₹5-6 lakh per acre with an investment of ₹1 lakh.
• The district, known as the "Sugar Bowl of the State," is seeing farmers in Nighasan, Mohammadi, Dhaurahra, and Palia regions embrace banana farming.
• High-quality bananas from Lakhimpur Kheri are supplied across Uttar Pradesh and to states like Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• Traders directly purchase produce from fields, eliminating middlemen and ensuring better returns for farmers, despite some weather-related damage this year.

Why It Matters: Lakhimpur Kheri farmers are achieving significant profits by switching from sugarcane to banana cultivation.