What are the Important Banana Varieties in India?

Banana is one of the healthiest fruits on earth and for this reason is popular worldwide.  In India, it is the second important fruit crop after mango. Banana is available all round the year, is affordable, nutritious, tasty and also has medicinal value, which makes it one of the most demanding fruit. It also has also good export potential.

Though we all eat banana but do you know how many varieties of bananas are there? There are more than 300 varieties of bananas all across the world. However, in India only 15 to 20 varieties are predominantly used for farming.

Varieties of Banana in India

Varieties Cultivated

Commercially, banana is classified as dessert types & culinary types. The culinary types have starchy fruits & they are used in the mature unripe form as vegetables. Important cultivars are Robusta, Monthan, Poovan, Dwarf Cavendish, Nendran, Red banana, Basrai, Ardhapuri, Nyali, Safed Velchi Rasthali, Karpurvalli, etc.

Banana varieties grown in different states of India are:

Karnataka - Robusta, Rasthali, Dwarf Cavendish, Poovan, Monthan, Elakkibale

Kerala - Nendran (Plantain), Palayankodan (Poovan), Rasthali, Monthan, Red Banana, Robusta

Andhra Pradesh - Dwarf Cavendish, Rasthali, Robusta, Amritpant, Thellachakrakeli, Chakrakeli, Monthan, Karpoora Poovan and Yenagu Bontha

Tamil Nadu - Robusta, Virupakshi, Rad Banana, Poovan, Rasthali, Monthan, Karpuravalli, Nendran, Sakkai, Peyan, Matti

Assam - Jahaji, Chini Champa, Malbhog, Honda, Manjahaji, Borjahaji (Robusta), Chinia (Manohar), Kanchkol, Bhimkol, Digjowa, Kulpait, Jatikol and Bharat Moni

Jharkhand - Basrai, Singapuri

Bihar - Chinia , Dwarf Cavendish, Alpon, Chini Champa, Kothia, Malbhig, Muthia, Gauria

Gujarat - Lacatan, Dwarf Cavendish, Harichal (Lokhandi), Gandevi Selection, Basrai, Robusta, G-9,  Shrimati

Madhya Pradesh - Basrai

Maharashtra - Dwarf Cavendish, Shreemanti, Basrai, Robusta, Lal Velchi, Safed Velchi, Rajeli Nendran, Grand Naine, Red Banana

Orissa - Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Champa

West Bengal - Mortman , Champa, Dwarf Cavendish, Giant Governor, Singapuri

Progressive banana varieties

Dwarf Cavendis

• In local languages, this banana is known as Bhusavali, Basrai, Marisas, Kabuli, Sindurani etc.

• It is very popular in India.

• Its plant is small, while the fruits are large.

• Its pulp appears soft and sweet in food.

Robusta

• This variety is also known as Bambegreen and Harichal.

• The areas of the Western Deep Group are famous mainly for its cultivation.

• The banana plants can be 3 to 4 meters in height.

• While their stem is medium thick and thick green.

• Green fruits develop in them.

• On an average, each bunch weighs between 25 and 30.

• Fruits are yellow.