Banana plantation
Banana plants may grow with varying degrees of success in diverse climatic conditions, but commercial banana plantations are primarily found in equatorial regions, in banana exporting countries. The four leading banana export countries worldwide are Ecuador, Costa Rica, Philippines, and Colombia. Ecuador provides more than 33% of global banana exports. In 2004, banana producing countries totaled 130. Production, as well as exports and imports of bananas, are nonetheless concentrated in a few equatorial countries. 75% of total banana production in 2004 was generated in 10 counties. India, Ecuador, Brazil and China produced half of total bananas. Latin American and Caribbean countries led banana production up to the 1980s, and Asian nations took the lead in banana production during the 1990s. African production levels have remained mostly unchanged.
Thottiyam
Thottiyam is essentially an agricultural area; its main crops are paddy, plantains and petals. Large quantities of plantains and petals are sent to other States, including exports to Middle East. Thottiyam is one largest producer of Banana Fruit in Tamilnadu. Banana is one of the fruit with short life span of few days. The Banana Farmers in this region faced frequent issue of price drop and wastage due to short life span to over come this issue the farmers of Thottiyam region formed a farmers self help group known as Thottiam Banana Producer Group to produce value added products from Banana under the brand name of Madhur Fruits and producing Solar dried banana, Banana Chocolates, Banana Cookies and Banana Powders from fresh bananas. This products were marketed under brand name of Madhur Fruits and available throughout India and outside of India.