• Type: Special variety of Red Banana.
• Origin: Kamalapur and surrounding areas of Kalaburagi district, Karnataka.
• Local cultivation: Kamalapur, Rajanal and Navanihal villages.
• Cultivation area: About 100 ha (250 acres).
• Nickname: “Rich man’s fruit” due to higher production inputs and market price.
• GI Status:
  • Protected under GI Act, 1999.
  • GI Application No.: 133
  • Class: 31 – Horticulture.
  • GI name: Kamalapur Red Banana.
  • Source states it is associated exclusively with the Kamalapur farming community.

🌱 Geography & Cultivation

• Grown mainly on hill slopes in a valley surrounded by hills on three sides.
• Cannot be grown on plain land, according to the source.
• Natural rainfall conditions; hot and humid climate.
• Soil: Red loamy soil, locally called “Halubilapu”.
• Soil is shallow, freely draining, somewhat calcareous and has organic carbon.
• District rainfall: about 777 mm.
• Irrigation in lowlands: furrow or drip irrigation.
• Planting season: August–September.
• Plant spacing: 7 × 7 ft traditionally.
• Planting pits: 50 × 50 cm, about 50 cm deep.
• Pit filling includes ash, compost, neem leaves, topsoil and organic manure.
• Desuckering: Every 45 days.
• Total planting-to-harvest period: about 18 months.

🍌 Plant & Fruit Characteristics

• Plant height: 22–25 ft (6.7–7.6 m).
• Stem: stout, with circumference about 3–3.2 ft at base.
• Leaves: long, oblong, greenish-yellow and brittle.
• Flower/fruit setting: about 10–11 months.
• Maturity period: another 7–8 months.
• Fruit skin: moderate red.
• Pulp: cream-coloured with pleasant taste.
• Yield: 15–20 kg/tree; source reports about 11 tonnes/acre.
• Generally reported as pest-free.

🧪 Nutritional & Chemical Properties

• Nutritionally tested by CFTRI.
• Rich in:
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Potassium
  • Fibre
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B6
• Has high calorie content.
• TSS: 20–22° Brix.

🚜 Important Innovations

• Triangular planting pattern, based on a practice from Israel, was adopted in India through the National Council of Research in Banana (NCRB).
• Plant population increased from about 1,210 to 1,710 plants/acre.
• Source reports increased yield with this system.
• Suckers are traditionally dipped in cow-dung water overnight before planting to prevent disease.

⭐ Exam Quick Revision

• Kamalapur Red Banana → Kalaburagi, Karnataka
• GI Application No. → 133
• GI Class → 31 (Horticulture)
• Cultivation area → ~100 ha
• Local soil name → Halubilapu
• Planting season → August–September
• Harvest period → ~18 months
• Plant height → 22–25 ft
• Fruit skin → Red
• Pulp → Cream
• TSS → 20–22° Brix
• Rich in → Ca, Fe, K, fibre, Vitamin C & B6
• Nickname → “Rich man’s fruit”
• Traditional spacing → 7 × 7 ft