ICAR-NRCB releases two new varieties of banana
Kaveri Thangam is a premium quality variety has nearly 10 times higher vitamin A than conventional varieties and Kaveri Nadan provides almost double the yield of the regular variety, says NRCB director
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB) in Tiruchi unveiled two fresh banana varieties, Kaveri Thangam and Kaveri Nadan, on Friday, coinciding with the institute's Foundation Day. These new cultivars emerged after 15 years of research and rigorous field trials to evaluate their quality, as revealed by R. Selvarajan, ICAR-NRCB's Director to reporters.
Kaveri Thangam stands out as a premium quality variety, packed with Provitamin A and boasting a distinctive aroma and yellow pulp. This variety is nearly ten times richer in vitamin A than conventional banana types. Its golden yellow appearance earned it the name Kaveri Thangam, signifying 'gold'. Selvarajan anticipates its swift popularity due to its firm texture and a shelf life of up to 15 days post-harvest. Moreover, the variety is impervious to weevils.
On the other hand, Kaveri Nadan is a high-yielding variety, promising nearly double the yield of regular bananas, reaching up to 75 tonnes per hectare. Selvarajan mentioned, "With the theme of the Foundation Day celebrations this year being Super El Nino, the meet discussed ways to mitigate the impact of the phenomenon not only on banana but also on other crops like paddy."
The area under banana cultivation in Tiruchi district has dwindled by 2,000 hectares, now down to 4,000 hectares this year, attributed to the poor monsoon and water scarcity. If the trend persists, the area could shrink even further next year. "We need to improve on water management. We have developed an AI and sensor-based irrigation system that conserves water even more effectively than drip irrigation," Selvarajan stated.
Other measures like mulching and removing older leaves within eight days can also aid in water conservation.
Elaborating on the institute's plans, Selvarajan announced that the NRCB would extend technical support for exporting nendran banana to the Middle East. The district Collector recently convened a meeting to explore the potential for banana exports, with four clusters identified for promoting farmers' producer organizations exclusively for exporting nendran bananas via Cochin port. Training programs for farmers on producing export-quality nendran bananas will also be provided.
K.B. Hebbar, Director of ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargod, addressed the audience as the chief guest. He expressed concern over the deficit rainfall caused by the Super El Nino phenomenon, noting its potential adverse effects on perennial crops like banana for two to three years. He emphasized the importance of adopting available technologies, using quality planting material, and maintaining soil health to minimize the impact of adverse conditions.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
