What is Bihar's 'chiniya' banana and why Hajipur farmers seek GI tag

PATNA: Farmers involved in cultivation of the famous “chiniya” variety of banana at Hajipur are upbeat with initial approval of geographical indication (GI) tag to the fruit. They are hopeful that the “chiniya” banana will get a global market and better yield once it gets the GI tag.
Officials at National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) at Patna had said earlier this month that the GI Registry in Chennai has accepted the initial proposal for GI tag to Hajipur’s “chiniya” banana as well as Nalanda’s “Bawan Buti” sari and Gaya’s “Pattharkatti” stone craft.
Products with a GI tag are protected under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which enables those who have the right to use the indication to prevent its use by a third party.
Ramanand, a banana farmer at Mithiyaon village in Hajipur, said chiniya variety of banana is grown throughout the year, but those getting ripe in June-July are the best. “Bananas are grown on vast swathes of land at Hajipur. It is the main source of livelihood for farmers like me. The chiniya banana of Hajipur goes to several other states as well. We are happy with the move to provide GI tag to the fruit,” he said.
Ram Chandra, another banana farmer at Hajipur, said the GI tag would give the much-needed boost to the cultivation of chiniya banana. “Many farmers have switched to other crops or other sources of livelihood owing to lack of proper support and financial pressure. Gone are the days when truckloads of bananas used to be supplied to other states from Hajipur. I am hopeful that the chiniya variety of banana will one again be in high demand once it gets the GI tag,” he said.
Bipin Poddar, additional director of horticulture at Purnia and a banana research scholar, said blocks like Jandaha and Desari are hubs of chiniya bananas in Vaishali district. “Hajipur chiniya bananas have large commercial value. However, fusarium wilt (also known as Panama disease) often infects banana plants. Initiatives are being taken by the government to protect chiniya bananas from this disease,” he added.
Anil Kumar, a banana expert, said GI tag to chiniya variety of the fruit would be highly beneficial as it will ensure proper pricing and other benefits.