Karnataka is one of India’s leading banana-producing states, with Uttara Kannada district emerging as a major contributor to this success. During 2021–22, banana was cultivated over 8,939 hectares, producing 2,13,244 metric tonnes with an average productivity of 23.85 t/ha. Banana cultivation plays a vital role in sustaining the livelihoods of farmers across Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and Hassan districts.
Despite its importance, banana growers have long faced serious post-harvest challenges due to the highly perishable nature of the fruit, inadequate storage infrastructure, limited marketing avenues, and seasonal market gluts. These constraints often resulted in heavy losses and reduced farm income. To address these challenges and enhance farmers’ income through value addition, the concept of BaKaHu (Balekai Hudi – Banana Flour) production was introduced in Karnataka as an innovative and sustainable solution.
ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Uttara Kannada, Sirsi played a pivotal role in driving this transformation by empowering farm women through systematic capacity building and skill development. Hands-on training programmes were conducted on the preparation of banana-based value-added products such as banana chips, banana flour (BaKaHu), papad, and sukeli (banana figs). These programmes focused on entrepreneurship development, scientific processing techniques, hygienic packaging, and market-oriented production systems. Both on-campus and off-campus demonstrations were organized, along with exposure visits to successful women entrepreneurs and food-processing units.
To strengthen technical capabilities, processing kits comprising slicers, measuring tools, molds, and essential utensils were distributed to trainees. Women were also introduced to low-cost processing technologies such as solar dryers, mini flour mills, and vacuum packaging units. A major milestone in this initiative was the BaKaHu Value Addition Workshop and Competition held on 11 August 2021 in collaboration with the Uttara Kannada Organic Federation, Department of Horticulture, and ATMA. The exhibition-cum-competition witnessed participation from nearly 56 farm women and SHG members, who showcased more than 175 innovative BaKaHu-based products ranging from sweet and spicy snacks to daily-use staples. Products such as BaKaHu Chocolate, BaKaHu Jalebi, BaKaHu Cake, and BaKaHu Kurkure highlighted the vast potential of banana flour in diversified food processing and value addition.
In addition to technical training, KVK provided comprehensive financial guidance and support to women entrepreneurs to enable access to credit and subsidies under various government schemes. These included PMFME (PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises), Stand-Up India, MUDRA Loans, and other state and central schemes supporting food processing and value addition. Support extended to the preparation of bankable project proposals, understanding subsidy norms, and leveraging grant-based programmes for enterprise expansion.
KVK also played a critical role in branding, packaging, quality certification, and market linkage development. Trainees were supported in developing product branding and labeling, adopting scientific packaging standards, obtaining quality certification, and establishing direct market linkages through melas, exhibitions, and farmers’ markets. Further, linkages were facilitated with SHGs, FPOs, cooperatives, and e-commerce platforms, enabling wider market reach and sustained business opportunities.
With continuous mentoring and support from KVK, several women from Uttara Kannada—Mrs. Ganga Hegde, Mrs. Mamata Bhat, and Mrs. Vasundhara Hegde—successfully established BaKaHu production units. Their enterprises expanded beyond local markets to national and international consumers, demonstrating the scalability and commercial viability of banana-based value addition.
A notable achievement under this initiative was by Smt. Ganga Hegde of Hosur, Sirsi Taluk, who secured ₹12 lakh under the RKVY–RAFTAAR Agribusiness Startup Fund to scale up banana powder production as a value-added enterprise. The BaKaHu movement received national recognition when Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi appreciated the initiative during his Mann Ki Baat address on 25 July 2021. He highlighted the innovation of preparing products such as dosa and gulab jamun from BaKaHu and acknowledged that this progress occurred even during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister noted that women led this movement, shared new recipes through social media, and successfully generated demand, making the BaKaHu revolution an inspiration for others.
The entrepreneurs actively promoted their products through social media platforms and, with support from Mahila Marukatte, successfully exported BaKaHu-based products to the United States. International consumer feedback highlighted the superior quality of the products. Alongside banana flour, large-scale production of sukeli and banana chips further strengthened enterprise sustainability.
These value-added products are marketed under established brands such as Shriram Home Products, Manjushree Home Products, and Deeksha Home Products. Key business outcomes include a BaKaHu selling price of ₹150–₹200 per kg, an increase in production from an initial 50 kg to 500–800 kg per year, and a rise in annual turnover from ₹2 lakh to ₹7 lakh. This remarkable growth reflects strong market demand and the success of value addition-driven entrepreneurship.
The BaKaHu Revolution has thus emerged as a powerful model of rural entrepreneurship, empowering women, reducing post-harvest losses, generating sustainable income, and transforming banana cultivation into a profitable enterprise. Through focused skill development, financial facilitation, branding support, and strong market linkages, ICAR–KVK Uttara Kannada has played a catalytic role in turning banana flour into a symbol of prosperity for the coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka.
(Source: ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka)
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