A STUDY ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF BANANA GROWERS IN FAKHARPUR BLOCK OF BAHRAICH DISTRICT OF UTTAR PRADESH

Banana is the second important fruit of the world after apples. After rice, wheat and milk products, it is the fourth important food item in terms of total production. This is a very ancient fruit of India whose social and economic aspect is very important. In the northern eastern region of India, banana is used as medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The share of banana in India's total fruit production is 31.72 percent and it is the world's largest banana producing nation. Commercial cultivation of banana occurs in about 23 territories in India in hot and temperate conditions. It is not cultivated in India only where there is excessive cold. There are limitless possibilities for cultivation of banana in the areas of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar East, and Uttar Pradesh. The study was conducted in Fakharpur block of Bahraich district Uttar Pradesh. Bahraich district being more concentration of banana cultivation in district (4000 ha). From this district, one block, were purposively selected on the basis of large area under banana production. From these block ten villages of banana growers and from each village 12 banana growers were selected for this study. Majority of the respondents (50.00) belong to the medium level of knowledge and (48.33%) were falling under medium level of adoption.