Different Types of Bananas Cultivated in India: A Complete List

Table of Contents

• Overview of Banana Cultivation in India
• Different Varieties of Bananas
  • Dwarf Cavendish
  • Nendran
  • Ney Poovan
  • Robusta
  • Poovan
  • Red Banana
  • Virupakashi
  • Pachanadan
  • Monthan
  • Rasthali
  • Karpuravalli
  • Safed Velchi Musa
  • Kathali

Banana is among the most popular fruits in India. Its year-round availability, diverse varieties, and affordability talk about its popularity. It further offers medicinal value, nutrition and delicious taste. India produces most of the global bananas annually, making the country a top banana producer by a considerable margin. Banana Production in India is double the number of bananas produced by the second largest producer, China, which can be attributed to cultivating diverse varieties. This blog discusses the different types of bananas cultivated in India.

Overview of Banana Cultivation in India

Bananas are widely consumed in India, and different factors contribute to this huge consumption, such as ease in affordability, accessibility, and year-round production. Cultivating bananas using advanced techniques have further helped improve overall banana production. Additionally, it reduces crop maturity time and improves quality, leading to premium price demands in the market.

The temperatures between 13°C to 38°C is the ideal temperature for banana cultivation. Different varieties have different climatic conditions that are required for suitable production. The soil needs an adequate drainage system, moisture, fertility and a pH between 6 and 7.5 for banana cultivation.

Different Varieties of Bananas

Banana comes in a wide range of sizes and has several varieties. Different types of bananas are grown in various states in India based on their unique climatic requirement, characteristics and usage. The most popular banana varieties in India are:

Dwarf Cavendish

This popular banana variety is extensively grown in states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Gujrat for chips, jelly, jam and table purposes. With a small stature, this plant is less likely to get damaged by wind; hence the name dwarf Cavendish. The average bunch of this variety weighs around 15 to 25 kg. This variety performs well when provided efficient drip irrigation method and high-density planting.

Nendran

This is one of the popular banana varieties in Kerala, where it is not only enjoyed as a fruit but also used for chips, flour and puree. In recent years, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a growth in commercial cultivation of this variety. The fruit has green skin and a distinct neck, turning yellow when ripe.

Ney Poovan

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are heavily involved in cultivating this banana variety, with Kerala practising small-scale cultivation. The bunch of this variety weighs 15 to 30 kg when mature. This variety turns yellow from dark green on ripening. It is resistant to the leaf spot but is susceptible to banana bract mosaic virus and Fusarium wilt.

Robusta

Robusta is mainly grown in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka's few regions. It is a semi-tall banana variety that is grown for table purposes. This variety has a higher yield comparatively and can efficiently produce well-developed and enormous fruit clusters. The bunch of this variety weighs in the range of 25 to 30 kg and has a pleasant and sweet aroma. However, it has a significantly low keeping quality, which results in a quick breakdown of pulp once it is ripe. This makes it unsuitable for long-distance export.

Poovan

This variety is primarily cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Tamil Nadu leads in the production of this variety due to its marginal soil conditions and climatic suitability. This variety is also cultivated for the leaf industry in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is acidic and has a sweet and sour aroma. It reaches a golden yellow colour when reaching maturity and is susceptible to Banana Bract Mosaic Viral and Banana Streak Virus.

Red Banana

This banana variety is highly sought after in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Districts like Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari are heavily involved in the commercial cultivation of this variety. It is also popularly known as Lal Velchi in Bihar and Chadara Bale in Karnataka.

Virupakashi

This variety is considered an elite variety of bananas in Southern India. It is primarily cultivated for table purposes in the hilly region of Shevroy and Palani hills in Tamil Nadu. The fruit in this variety has a slight curvature, pleasant taste and aroma. When cultivated in hilly regions, these show their flavour. It is further classified as Sirumalai, which is grown in hills, Kali and Vannan, which are suited for plain regions.

Pachanadan

This variety can grow in marginal soils and is popular in Tamil Nadu. A bunch in this variety weighs around 12 to 15 kg and reaches maturity in one year. It is usually planted in Nendran plantation as a gap filler where both these crops can easily be harvested together. It has the ability to resist leaf spots and Banana Bunchy Top Virus.

Monthan

This variety is used for making banana powder, flour, figs, chips and flakes. It is popular among others in the banana varieties list. It has a robust and tall plant bearing an 18 to 20 kg bunch within a year. The fruits are usually stocky, pale green and bold. In addition to its culinary usage, this variety is also used for vegetable and medicinal purposes. It shows immunity to the Banana Bunchy Top Virus.

Rasthali

Rasthali is a medium-tall banana variety mainly cultivated commercially in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. It is famous for its unique fruit quality and is used for table purposes. During the development phase, the fruit is a bit yellowish green and turns pale yellow when reaching maturity. This variety has a fruit with a pleasing aroma and is usually tasty. However, this variety is slightly costly to cultivate due to its susceptibility to Fusarium wilt and other requirements like covering the fruits to protect them from cracking due to the excessive sunlight and the hard lump formation on them.

Karpuravalli

This variety is cultivated in medium-rich soil for table purposes. The southern and central regions of Tamil Nadu are responsible for its commercial cultivation. The cultivation of this variety in Bihar is done in patches and is called Kanthali. It is a robust and tall plant usually cultivated when resources are scarce. The seeding of Karpuravalli varies based on the seasonal variability.

Safed Velchi Musa

Cultivated in the Nasik and Thane districts of Maharashtra, this banana variety is famous for its high-quality output for table purposes. It can easily be recognized by its small fruit, thin rind and white flesh, which is sweet. This variety's bunch weighs around 12 kg with around 150 fruits per bunch, and its maturity is around 13 months.

Kathali

Known for its distinctive taste and elongated shape, the Kathali Banana offers a delightful combination of sweetness and a creamy texture. These bananas are bright yellow in colour. These are used as a snack, in smoothies and desserts. It is further known by different names in different regions, such as Chinia in Bihar and Yelakki in Bengaluru.

Bananas are commonly found and a wide variety of them are cultivated in India. Some of them are consumed in their raw form, some are added to sweet desserts, while others are perfect ingredients for delicious cooking recipes. With the growth in demand for bananas, domestic cultivation is likely to increase, and India, the largest producer, can eventually reach among the largest exporters.