Banana farmers reaping it rich Updated: Updated: Value chain development programme helping them realise a better price Share Article Value chain development programme helping them realise a better price The initiatives of the Horticulture Department seem to be yielding results. The banana value chain development programme is apparently contributing to the stabilisation of the prices if the statistics available from 2018-19 are any indication. According to information, the programme is benefiting the farmers, more particularly small and marginal farmers, in the State. More than 1.30 lakh farmers are engaged in banana cultivation. Of them, more than 80% are small and marginal farmers, who hold lands less than one acre, or between 2 acres and 3 acres. The total banana production stands at 63.84 lakh tonnes in the State.