The
humble banana remains a favourite fruit. The economic potential it has in
rejuvenating and adding to income-generation of the local farming Naga
population is immense. This point of contention, about why the tropical fruit
can be a feasible economic area for farmers, was highlighted during a recent
inauguration of a center for banana cultivation.
The
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of Dimapur inaugurated the “Banana
Farm School” in Zhekishe village in Dimapur on June 23. Khekato Kiba, a
progressive banana farmer, was appointed its “farm school teacher” during the
event the ATMA informed on Wednesday, June 24.
Resource
person HD Singh, of the Indian Council of Agriculture and Research in Jharnapani
spoke during the program. He spoke on various topics about cultivation methods
and associated matter about bananas. Jahaji
(Dwarf Cavendish), Chini Champa, Malbhog, and Borjahaji (Robusta) are some of
the varieties of the fruit cultivated in Nagaland.
According
to HD Singh, the year-round availability,
affordability, range, taste, nutritive and medicinal values make the banana a favorite
fruit among all classes of people. Banana is basically a tropical crop and grows
well in a temperature range of 15ºC – 35ºC with relative humidity of 75-85%, he
said.
‘In India this crop is being cultivated in climate
ranging from humid tropical to dry mild subtropics through selection of
appropriate varieties. Four months of monsoon (June to September) with an
average 650-750 mm. rainfall are most important for vigorous vegetative growth
of banana,’ Singh was quoted as having said. The soil for banana plants
require good drainage, adequate fertility, and moisture, he added.
The ICAR member also highlighted the economic
importance of the fruit: banana powder is used as the first food for babies.
Processed products, such as chips, banana puree, jam, jelly, juice, wine and
halwa can be made from the fruit. Banana fibre is used to make items like bags,
pots and wall hangers. Rope and good quality paper can be prepared from banana
waste. Banana leaves are used as healthy and hygienic eating plates.
A pit size of 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 m. is normally required
and small pits are dug in case of ridges and furrows. The pits are to be
refilled with topsoil mixed with 10 kg of FYM (well decomposed), 250 gm of neem
cake and 20 gm of carbofuran. Prepared pits are left open for 15-20 days for
solar radiation to kill all the insects, soil borne diseases and for aeration
before refilling.
 |
| Going bananas. The tropical fruit is not only a favourite for foodies and 'fruities', it is for farmers seeking economic returns from farming the yellow fruit. |
Leguminous crops, beetroot, elephant foot yam, ginger,
turmeric and sunnhemp may be grown as an inter-crop during the first 3-4
months. The planted crop gets ready for harvest within 12-15
months of planting and the main harvesting season of banana is from September
to April. However, to get maximum yield plantation is done at 1.2 X 1.5 m spacing.
Also, Khekato Kiba, a 52 year old progressive farmer,
spoke during the event. The farmer said that he first planted banana saplings of
the Amritsar variety, in his farm 6 years ago which was brought from Nagaon
district in Assam.
Today, the farmer has over 1.5 hectares of land under
banana cultivation and the total yield of bananas and its residues from the
entire village comes in metric tonnes.
Since then, the banana farmer has been planting and
selling his produce successfully. He is looking forward to expanding his farm.
Today, other villagers too have been motivated by him
and have started the same cultivation for income generation. This is a good sign
that his knowledge about the fruit is being imparted. However, Kiba said, lack
of technical and marketing knowledge from the ‘departments in concern’
continues to be one of the main problems farmers are facing. For instance, the
farmers sell the produce to wholesalers and other middlemen from Assam and
Dimapur who come to the villages and nearby villages to buy at a minimal price.
During the program, Demalu Hasnusa of Niuland block
highlighted the concept of a farm school and the role of a farm school teacher.
He encouraged farmers from neighboring villages to expand their unused lands in
banana farming and self help groups to take up ‘value addition methods’ in
banana cultivation.
Later in the day, tissue culture banana saplings of
the Grand Naine variety were distributed to all the participants. Farm tools
were distributed to the farm school teacher as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment