Genetic engineering, molecular breeding and organic farming hogged the discussions during the five-day National Banana Festival, the first ever of its kind to be held, that drew to a close in rural Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

Banana farming assumes much importance in the Indian scenario, since the country ranks first in global banana production and accounts for 25.58 per cent of global production. It also makes for 36.6 per cent of the total fruit production in the country.

Provider of jobs

Banana and plantain are widely grown in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Bihar, east Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and the North-Eastern States.

The banana industry provides employment to thousands of people. It is also a fact that only one per cent of the banana produced is exported. Also organic banana, it has been revealed, is an emerging sector in global trade.

Inaugurating the festival, Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh said that the Centre was committed to providing all possible assistance to farmers of horticulture crops. He pointed to the efforts by the Central and State governments that have succeeded in adding 21,200 hectares to the total banana cultivable area in Kerala since 2013-14.

“As per 2013-14 figures, banana was being cultivated on 1,18,697 hectares, and the addition of 21,200 hectares augurs well for the sector,” he said.

Special agri zones

The 32 Special Agricultural Zones declared by the Kerala government would help increase the productivity of different crops native to those regions. Teh entire Thrissur district has been declared a Special Agricultural Zone for banana.

The Centre’s Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIHD) scheme has benefited banana farmers. The Union Minister said the Centre is committed to provide the required assistance to farmers for all horticulture crops.

“We have been providing financial assistance of about ₹50 crore per year for the past four years under the MIHD scheme and ₹200 crore per year under the RKVY scheme for the promotion of various horticulture crops in the State.”

Talking of urbanisation and erosion of wild bananas in their natural habitat, Radha Mohan Singh called for the need to conserve the available genetic diversity.

Stress-resistant genes

“The Musa wild species and its allied species form an important source of resistant genes for biotic and abiotic stresses. Biotic and abiotic stresses are the main constraints that reduce productivity considerably.

“Production constraints also vary from region to region. The complexity of problems calls for basic, strategic, and adaptive research to maximise productivity of banana crops.”

Banana and plantain breeding has its inherent complex issues, but he latest biotechnology tools and approaches have been helpful in achieving projected results. The real impact of these approaches will be visible in the near future.

With a production target of 60 million tonnes being projected for 2020, constraints, such as increasing input costs related to fertilisers, irrigation and management of pests and diseases, are being addressed to maximise production.

World’s largest producer

India is world’s largest producer with 29.7 million tonnes from an area of 0.88 million hectares with a productivity of 37 tonnes /ha. It accounts for only 15.5 per cent in area but its contribution to world's production is 25.58 per cent.

Thus, banana has emerged as one of the important fruit crops available to common man. With ever-increasing demand, 60 million tonnes will be needed to meet the domestic demand in 2050. There is good scope for export of banana and its products.

New initiatives are being taken to give a fillip to aspects such as genetic engineering, molecular breeding, organic farming, integrated pest and disease management, physiological, bio-chemical and genetic basis for biotic and abiotic stress management.

Post-harvest technology, use of ripening chamber and value addition from waste to wealth are also engaging serious attention of the Centre, the Union Minister said.

Varied topics discussed

Other topics discussed included processing and value addition in banana: a promising enterprise; IP protection of Chengalikodan Nendra banana of Kerala; farm mechanisation and mechanisation in by-product utilisation of banana; deployment of banana tissue culture know-how in rural sector; end-to-end supply chain programme for banana Robusta in Mysore region; and scope and importance for income and employment generation.

KSM Lekshmi, General Manager, Nabard, said that the apex agriculture and rural development bank thrives to bring together the banana farmers, producers, scientists and researchers on a common platform.

Value-added products from banana fibre, pseudostem, and the banana fruit were displayed at the exhibition that ran parallel to the festival.

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