Delectable and nutritious, the humble banana is consumed in vast quantities all over the country. In India, the total production being 26.21 million tones from an area of 0.709 million ha. The major growing states are Tamilnadu, Maharastra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala.
India is endowed with diverse agro-climatic conditions which have encouraged the development and sustenance of a large number of varieties catering to the local needs. Though, more than 20 varieties have assumed the status of commercial cultivation, Dwarf Cavendish forms the mainstay of the Indian banana industry, owing to its high yield, wide market acceptability, short crop duration and high economic returns per unit area. Poovan is another cultivar grown commercially in different regions for its wider adaptability and tolerance to drought and diseases. Rasthali is significant in commercial production and its success largely depends on higher price which it fetches. Virupakshi, Monthan, Karpuravalli and Chakia are also important in some regions of the country. Nendran or Rajali are grown in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, Cavendish group of banana has largest area and production.
Banana, a group of crops consisting of dessert banana, cooking banana, plantain, pome, silk and others, has different production systems and technologies. Depending upon resource availability, cultivars, traditions and marketing, different production systems have been adopted, which have their own merits.
Traditionally, banana has been propagated by suckers or rhizomes but realizing the advantages of in-vitro propagation, mass multiplication through shoot tip culture has gained popularity for the production of disease-free plants. High multiplication rate unit time, with increased yields and freeness from nematode, fungal and bacterial pathogens are some of the advantages which have attracted many commercial firms in India for mass multiplication using micro propagation techniques.
A close spacing of 1.5 X 1.5 meters accommodating 4444 plants/ha has been found to be optimum for both 'Robusta' and 'Dwarf Cavendish' as against traditional spacing of 1.8 X 1.8 meters with 3086 plants/ha. This has resulted in yield of 145 tonnes/ha as against 114 tonnes/ha with normal spacing in cv. Robusta. The plant density commonly followed in India was only 15-20 thousand plants/ha with a fruit yield of 20-25 tonnes/ha. Which was much lower than that followed elsewhere.
The low plant density resulted in reduced yields and high cost of production. A population density ranging from 53,000 to 63,000 plants/ha has been shown to give higher returns under sub-tropical and mild humid conditions in Indian Banana supply and marketing are mainly governed by private sector except in some cases where cooperatives handle its marketing. Unlike in other commodities, cash marketing is most common, where money payment is done immediately after every transaction. Banana markets are specialized markets located in all big cities, and most of the marketing functions are followed.
Opportunities emerging due to growing market for organic banana requires to be harnessed. Emerging market in Middle-East, East Europe and other developing economies could be exploited. To keep its leadership of the Indian banana in production and diversity, a horizontal and vertical integration coupled with institutional support system would be essential, which shall improve the quality of life of people dependent on banana.
The investment in technology at the farm level to improve yield and quality is turning the fortunes of a growing number of farmers in the State of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu in India.
• There is more interest among farmers to improve banana quality as the income is quite good.
• Productivity per plant has risen from the low levels of 15-20 kg to around 60 kg in many farms.
• Exports have risen nearly five times from Rs. 11.7 crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 55 crore in 2008-09.
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