Rajpipla: Farmers in the Narmada district have expanded their banana sales beyond domestic markets to exporting to several countries, driven by rising global demand and local entrepreneurial initiatives. Bananas grown in the district are now being exported to countries including Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait.

The export push has been led by a local startup, Reva Fresh Fruit Export, which works in collaboration with farmers, particularly from Thari village in Nandod taluka. Initially supplying bananas to various Indian states, farmers transitioned to international markets after witnessing consistent demand and better price realisation.

A key factor behind the success is the high demand for the G-9 Cavendish variety of bananas in global markets. Farmers engaged in direct exports are reportedly earning nearly double profits compared to traditional sales channels.

The initiative is spearheaded by farmer-entrepreneur Vikramsinh Rathod, who established the export venture in 2016. Starting with sales through the Rajpipla APMC, Rathod later set up a modern fruit export unit in Thari village to eliminate intermediaries and ensure better returns for farmers.

Currently, the network connects over 500 farmers from more than 50 villages in Narmada district, with additional participation from farmers in Bharuch and Chhota Udepur. Bananas are sourced from approximately 1,500 acres under cultivation.

To ensure uninterrupted supply for international markets, the startup follows a year-round sourcing strategy: produce is procured from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh between March and August, Maharashtra from August to December, and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh from December to March.

The model has not only boosted farmers’ incomes but has also emerged as a replicable example for agricultural export-led growth in Gujarat, enabling cultivators to bypass traditional APMC channels and directly access global markets. DeshGujarat