The Hindu : Front Page : Move for banana cluster

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Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009
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Move for banana cluster

R.Krishnamoorthy

TIRUCHI: In the backdrop of banana cultivation being undertaken in vast swathes in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Dindigul, Karur and Perambalur, the Tiruchi Productivity Council (TPC) has roped in the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) here to materialise a long-pending proposal for establishment of a banana-based industrial cluster for the region.

At its first consultative meeting convened on Sunday to discuss the formation of such a cluster, the TPC resolved to request the NRCB to approach the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and other agencies for funding to study the proposal.

Regular and extensive cultivation of banana varieties, availability of financial and other support for cluster formation under the schemes of MSME Ministry and Union Government, access to NRCB’s technology were among the factors that had prompted the TPC, council chairman S. Sridharan said. He said there was huge entrepreneurial scope in the venture.

According to TPC honorary secretary general Raja Mutthirulandi, the council would, in association with Sankara Institutions here, hold a seminar on prospects of banana-based industrial cluster next month with a view to creating awareness and sensitising stake-holders _ banana growers, traders, industrialists, entrepreneurs and consumers.

The TPC was exploring the possibility of taking NABARD’s support for the seminar, Prof. Mutthirulandi said.

Taking part in the discussion, Director of NRCB M.M. Mustafa said the institution had formulated technologies for producing value-added products like chips, figs, jam, sauce, jelly, puree, flour, beverages, syrup, health drinks, baby food, biscuits, candy, pickle and fibre.

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