The Confederation of Indian Industry has proposed to make a brand out of the bananas grown in Tamil Nadu along the lines of Florida oranges and California apples.

Seeking the State Government support for this initiative, the apex industry body has suggested ways and means to educate all stakeholders in the supply chain, from the farm gate to the retail end on technologies available for proper post-harvest management.

Mr B. Thiagarajan, CII Co-Chairman of Agriculture and Food Processing Sub-Committee, said that the State produces different types of bananas, which collectively account for 25 per cent of the country’s total banana production.

By formally educating farmers and other stakeholders, the State can promote these bananas in the domestic as well as overseas markets in a big way.

There is a huge amount of wastage in the farm sector in India, which according to him is to the tune of Rs 80,000 crore a year and the body suggests creating a model banana cold chain in the State.

Mr Thiagarajan said that as of now, not even a small percentage was sent to other States, “leave alone exporting them”. They are either consumed or wasted in the State itself.

By adopting a suitable technology the State can save up to Rs 6,000 crore annually by setting up cold chains.

It also proposes to hold a banana festival in Chennai in December this year, in association with the State Government, farmers, traders, equipment manufacturers and investors.

>rravikumar@thehindu.co.in

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