Assessment of Extent of Value Addition in Banana

In a study conducted to assess the extent of value addition in banana in Yaval and Raver blocks of Jalgaon district of Maharshtra, the farmers were practicing value addition and processing to a moderate extent of about 34 per cent. The usual value added products being done by banana farmers were: wafers, chivda, powder, etc. A special index was developed to measure the extent of value addition. On few components, the extent of value addition was higher but on few components, it was very low. The results also showed a considerable amount of interest in adding value to their bananas for augmenting their farm incomes, and for sustainable development of their rural economy. Some of the factors contributing to the extent of value addition were: risk orientation, hope of success, innovativeness and achievement motivation.