Yara India, a subsidiary of Yara International and the world's leading crop nutrition company, in collaboration with the Banana Research Station, hosted the Banana Value Chain Summit 2025. 

Centered around the theme Strengthening Banana Value Chain from Productivity to Prosperity, the summit served as a dynamic platform to address the critical challenges facing banana cultivation in India while promoting innovation, collaboration, and value addition across the banana ecosystem. 

The day-long summit brought together a distinguished gathering of stakeholders, including leading scientists, banana traders, processors, exporters, cold chain experts, agricultural institutes, trade chambers, agronomists, and over 500 farmers from major banana-growing belts across Maharashtra. Participants engaged in rich discussions aimed at enhancing the productivity, resilience, and market reach of banana cultivation in India, with a strong focus on farmer-centric solutions and industry-academia collaboration. 

The event featured panel discussions and technical sessions that explored topics such as climate-smart agriculture, post-harvest management, pricing mechanisms, and sustainable farming practices. Farmers also shared their on-ground experiences, challenges, and success stories, adding an important grassroots perspective to the dialogue. A showcase of banana varieties developed by research institutions and an exhibition of value-added banana products further highlighted the crop’s economic and nutritional potential. 

Speaking on the development, Kurban Murad Tadavi, District Superintendent Agriculture Officer, Jalgaon said, "It is a true honour for Jalgaon to host the Banana Value Chain Summit jointly organized by Banana Research Station and Yara Fertilisers India Pvt. Ltd. This landmark event marks a significant step forward for our district's banana growers. We are confident that the insights and partnerships forged here will empower our farmers with the tools and knowledge needed to achieve unprecedented prosperity, which will not only enhance productivity but also create new avenues for employment, leading to significant improvements in both the nutritional security and economic well-being of our region."   

Commenting on the occasion, Sanjiv Kanwar, MD, Yara South Asia said, “Yara is proud to partner with the Banana Research Station Jalgaon to bring together diverse voices from across the value chain. This summit reflects our commitment to improving farmer livelihoods through knowledge-sharing, innovation, and sustainable practices. Bananas are a vital crop for Indian horticulture, and it is critical that we support farmers in not just growing more but growing better and earning more.” 

Echoing the sentiment, Dr. Arun Bhosale, Horticulturist said, “This collaboration underscores the importance of joint efforts between research institutions and Agri-industry players to empower banana growers. Our goal is to equip farmers with the latest scientific insights and market knowledge to help them navigate current challenges and seize emerging opportunities.” 

The summit concluded with a renewed commitment from both Yara and the Banana Research Station to continue working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to build a resilient, profitable, and future-ready banana value chain in India.