The Federation of Indian Export Organisations is planning to see through a technology infusion into the processes of cultivation of the ‘poovan’ variety of banana and manufacture of export-oriented by-products for improving returns to farmers in Tiruchi region.
K. Unnikrishnan, Deputy Director General Southern Region, FIEO, Chennai: “The feedback we got from farmers is that the agro-climatic condition in the region best suits the ‘poovan’ variety of banana. But, since it has very poor shelf life, the post-harvest wastage is to the extent of 35%. Hence, our emphasis will be on manufacture of value-added products like banana powder for which there is a huge export market.”
In future, the emphasis will be on scientific cultivation, post-harvest handling, processing, and marketing the processed products, including fibres for textiles and handicrafts, to overseas destinations.
Source: thehindu.com
