IIIM, CSIR Joint Endeavour Allows for Successful Cultivation
A new biotechnology driven programme has been brought to J&K for commercial cultivation of banana.
“Experimental works involved growing the banana by tissue culture technique at Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Jammu. The samplings of this high quality tissue culture variety known as Bhim Grand Naine (G-9) banana were brought from Agro Division of Cadila Pharmaceutical Limited, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The first trial of cultivation over two acres land of Field experimental farm Chatha has been successfully completed”, said Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, Director CSIR-IIIM, Jammu.
Bananas are not hard to work with- they aren’t hard to grow, but then they do require a few necessary things, of which optimum temperature is one. Bananas aren’t real trees, not even palm trees even though they are often called banana palms. Bananas can handle the extreme heat (if they have enough water), but they don’t like it. They can handle cool weather for a short while, but they don’t like that either. And below 140C they simply stop growing.
Therefore, J&K, though suitable to the cultivation of most of the varieties of tropical and sub-tropical fruits, does not have bananas figured in the list. While
the state is a net exporter of fruits to the rest of the country and abroad, it imports bananas to the tune of Rs 200 crores annually.In order to bring commercial cultivation of banana in J&K, the CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine conceived a new biotechnology driven programme. The work was jointly carried out by CSIR-IIIM, Jammu and Cadila Pharmaceutical, Ahmedabad. After full trial and established tissue culture and agriculture practice, Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, Director IIIM Jammu on Monday launched the J&K grown banana fruit.
First cultivation trial was conducted by planting 2000 samplings of banana plants with the narrow spacing in August 2016. The fruit setting commenced in July-August, 2017 while as the maturity and harvesting attained in 13 months.
“The plant grew to a height of 6.5 to 7.5 feet and gave yield 20-30 kg per plant and 20-25 tonnes/acre. In term of economy involved, as per market analysis, price of banana in Jammu is approximately Rs. 20 per kg. Thus on an average, 20-30 Kg yield/plant gives Rs. 250-300/Banana plant”, said Dr. Vishwakarma.
“We have created a big economic opportunity for this region. If we can generate production of Rs 50 crore for next two to three years out of annual Rs 250 imports, it will be a big thing. It will create an economy and create employment opportunity,” the director said.
More than 1,64,000 acres of land in the country is under banana cultivation. The states where edible banana species are cultivated include Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Many wild species of banana come from Northeast and South Indian states. While the Valley grows temperate fruits such as apples, apricots, almonds, peaches, cherries, plums, pears, walnuts, melons, grapes and saffron produce, Jammu grows subtropical fruits such as mango, orange, malta, kinu, ber, plum, papaya, guava, nashpati (peach), litchi, lemon, and grapes. Interestingly, 500 varieties of mango are grown in Jammu, each with a unique taste and flavour.
Till date, no initiative of commercial cultivation of banana had been undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The next target of IIIM to introduce the banana cultivation in Kashmir region through modern biotechnology approach (Polyhouses) which would be done in 2018”, a spokesman for CSIR-IIIM said.
