ICAR-NRCB Collaborates in Uttar Pradesh: Empowering Farmers with Hi-Tech Banana Cultivation

Farmers from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh underwent comprehensive training on Improved Production Technologies for Hi-Tech Banana Cultivation. This initiative, conducted in collaboration with the ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana and the State Department of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh, aims to equip farmers with advanced banana cultivation technologies.

Equipping Farmers for Success

Under the guidance of experts from the ICAR-National Research Centre for Bananas in Tiruchirapalli, farmers underwent training to harness advanced technologies tailored for banana cultivation. The curriculum included instruction on automation, sensor-based irrigation, IoT-enabled disease detection, and the utilization of drones​ for value-added product production. This training is expected to enhance productivity, improve crop quality, and mitigate risks associated with traditional farming methods.

Leadership in Banana Research

Dr R. Selvarajan, Director of ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, underscored the institution's global leadership in banana research. With Asia's largest gene bank for bananas, the Centre is at the forefront of innovation in agricultural science. Dr Selvarajan highlighted the Centre's achievements, including the development of 50 technologies, the acquisition of four patents within the past year, and ongoing research into gene editing to combat fusarium wilt—a prevalent issue in Uttar Pradesh.

Fusarium wilt is a plant disease caused by soil-inhabiting fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Plant species susceptible to this disease also include economically important food crops such as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, legumes, melons, and bananas (in which the infection is known as Panama disease).

Combatting Disease and Enhancing Resistance

Addressing the farmers, Dr Selvarajan shared critical advancements in disease resistance. The Centre has developed 'Grand Naine' mutants resistant to wilt diseases and introduced a 'No2Wilt' bio consortium aimed at combating fusarium wilt effectively. These breakthroughs offer promising solutions to safeguard banana crops and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.

Experiential Learning and Adoption of Best Practices

In addition to theoretical training, farmers were exposed to practical insights during visits to export clusters in Theni and Thirukatupalli. Witnessing gardenland and wetland banana cultivation practices firsthand, participants gained valuable knowledge on adopting various technologies essential for banana export. Such experiential learning opportunities are crucial for farmers to incorporate best practices and optimize their agricultural endeavors.