J&K: Banana pushes its way with biotechnology

Srinagar: Though the diversity in geo-ecological conditions of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is suitable to cultivation of most of varieties of tropical and sub-tropical fruits, however, banana does not figure 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.

But the situation is all set change now. A new biotechnology driven programme has been brought to J&K for commercial cultivation of banana.  After full trial and established tissue culture and agriculture practice, Dr Ram Vishwakarma, director, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu launched the J&K-grown banana recently.

Giving details, he said, “Samplings of this high quality tissue culture variety known as Bhim Grand Naine (G-9) banana were brought from agro division of Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad. He added that the first trial of cultivation on two acres land of field experimental farm at Chatha has been completed.”  

He said that the first cultivation trial was done by planting 2,000 samplings of banana plants with the narrow spacing of 2x2 m in Aug. 2016 and fruit setting commenced between July and Aug. 2017 and maturity and harvesting was attained in 13 months. “The plant grew up to a height of 6.5 to 7.5 feet and gave a yield of 20 to 30 kg per plant and 20 to 25 tonnes per acre,” he said. “In terms of economy involved, as per market analysis, price of banana in Jammu is approximately Rs 20 per kg. Thus on an average, each plant (20 to 30 kg yield) will fetch Rs 250 to 300. On the basis of market demand, approximately Rs 2.5 lakh net return can be obtained by cultivating this crop on one acre of land which is attractive business for the farmers,” CSIR-IIIM, Jammu principal scientist Zabeer Ahmed said. The CSIR-IIIM, Jammu officials said the methods for transformation and regeneration have been developed. “Such biotechnological approaches can be implemented here too so that genes can be introduced to existing varieties to improve the characteristics such as disease resistance and post-harvest quality, including shelf life,” they added.

The initiative is a joint endeavour of IIIM and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Jammu and CP,  Ahmedabad.

“In terms of annual banana consumption, the fruit’s commercial cultivation would be most profitable agriculture business for farmers,” they said. “The geo-ecological conditions of Jammu are suitable for this crop. Nevertheless, the IIIM’s next target would be to introduce banana cultivation in Kashmir through modern biotechnology approach (polyhouses) in 2018,” they added.

For the uninitiated, J&K is divided into three geographical divisions — Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.

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.

The fruits in Ladakh include apricot and apples. Bulk of these come from the warmer and lower reaches of the landlocked regions of Sham, Nubra and Kargil.

At a glance, 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.

Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Dr  Vishwakarma said CSIR-IIIM, Jammu would facilitate and co-ordinate prospective institutions, organisations or farmers for purchasing banana saplings on subsidised rates from CP, Ahmedabad, along with technical support for commercial cultivation of banana in J&K.