Success Story: This farmer of Gujarat earns 50-60 lakh rupees annually by producing 35 tonnes of bananas per acre
Success Story: A pioneer of innovation in Indian agriculture, 51-year-old Dhirendrakumar Bhanubhai Desai hails from Panetha village in Jhagadia taluka of Bharuch district in Gujarat. Since graduating from college in 1991, he has gained over thirty years of practical experience, and he has gone far beyond traditional farming practices.
By adopting contemporary farming practices with perseverance and foresight, he has transformed production on his farm and has become a role model for other farmers in the region. Dhirendrakumar has sown the seeds of change in his community with his integrity, leadership, and strong will to move forward.
Step towards innovation
Dhirendrakumar began his farming career using traditional methods of growing sugarcane and bananas, overcoming obstacles such as inadequate infrastructure and financial pressures. His discovery of tissue culture bananas, drip irrigation, and integrated bio-nutrient management (IBNM) on an agricultural journey made a big difference. Inspired by the tagline “more crop per drop,” he developed a sustainable cropping method that reduced expenses and increased production.
Farming Bananas Successfully
By using cutting-edge methods including drip irrigation, plant tissue culture, green manure, and bio-composting, Dheerendrakumar was able to harvest three banana crops from a single plantation in just 27 months. He grows the G9 variety, and his achievements have set a benchmark for the country. These developments resulted in his production increasing from 15 to 35 metric tons per acre. Additionally, his farm became a pioneer in the use of drone technology to improve disease control, farming precision, and efficiency.
Contributions and Achievements
Dhirendrakumar’s 40-acre farm now produces 35 tons of bananas per acre thanks to his creative use of tissue culture and drip irrigation. Additionally, he advanced current farming methods by developing drone technology for spraying pesticides on banana farms. To increase farmers’ income and group marketing, he established a cooperative society for banana growers in addition to his individual achievements. His efforts have resulted in encouraging more than 1,000 farmers from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to adopt high-tech banana farming.
Dhirendrakumar recently joined Krishi Jagran’s “Global Farmer Business Network” program, which furthered his goal of promoting high-tech banana farming and improving the condition of farmers in several states.
Growth and Diversification of Agribusiness
Desai has also added 1,200 tissue-cultured Natal sweet orange plants to his estate apart from bananas. In keeping with his inventive spirit, he also set up a banana chips factory in his community, boosting his farming business and creating work for locals.
Honours and recognition
Desai has achieved remarkable financial success due to his creative farming methods, which earn him profits of Rs 50 to 60 lakh annually. He has received over 30 prestigious honors for his hard work and innovative efforts, including the IARI Innovative Farmer Award (2019), the Best ATMA Farmer Award from the Government of Gujarat (2019) and the Crorepati Farmer of India Award in 2024.
With appearances in national and international media, including a documentary on DD Kisan and a BBC News Gujarati program showcasing his excellent farming practices, his achievements have garnered global acclaim.
Dedication to achievement
Dhirendrakumar is committed to advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability. He aims to increase the use of contemporary agricultural methods and promote care for the environment. To maintain the profitability and sustainability of agriculture, he wants to encourage more farmers to adopt new technology.
Dhirendrakumar Bhanubhai Desai has shown through his achievements how agricultural innovation can boost incomes and inspire others, especially banana growers, to adopt cutting-edge methods and technology.
The Global Farmer Business Network (GFBN) is a vibrant platform for agricultural professionals, including buyers, investors, innovators, policy makers and farmer entrepreneurs, where they can exchange ideas, learn from each other and advance their enterprises. Through shared knowledge, GFBN, led by Krishi Jagran, fosters meaningful relationships and cooperative learning opportunities that promote sustainable development and agricultural innovation.