Ashok Gade, a 72-year-old farmer from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, tackled the challenges of unprofitable banana farming by innovating value-added products like banana biscuits. With support from his wife, Kusum, he transitioned from selling raw bananas to creating processed goods, earning recognition and a government patent for their unique banana biscuit recipe.
These biscuits, made using bananas, ghee, and sugar, have gained popularity for their health benefits and taste. Priced at Rs 400–500 per kg, they generate four times the profit compared to raw banana sales. The couple’s enterprise, Sankalp Enterprises, collaborates with 50 local farmers, producing 200–350 kg of biscuits weekly and earning Rs 50 lakh annually.
The patent has expanded their reach to states like Karnataka, West Bengal, and Odisha, and they plan to enter international markets. By transforming a low-profit crop into a thriving business, Ashok has inspired other farmers to embrace value addition for sustainable farming.
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