In Karnataka, a silent revolution with bananas

Farming communities, homemakers ignite culinary change by popularising banana flour

Farming communities in Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka are demonstrating that much more than banana bread — the flavour of the first year of lockdown — can be made with the fruit. In rain-rich Karnataka, banana cultivation is common but farmers have no control over prices. “Merchants categorise the fruit into first and second quality. It was being bought at ₹4 and ₹5 per kg during the lockdown. The farmers were forced to take back the seconds. When there is a glut, distress sales are common in this region,” says farm educator Shree Padre. Now, homemakers are helping these farmers by experimenting with banana flour, which can be used for everything from dosas to gulab jamun.