A group of 1,000 banana farmers across the State have joined hands and floated a company with objectives of improving revenue, preventing post-harvest losses and identifying organised markets to dispatch their produce at a competitive price.
Christened Tamil Nadu Banana Producer Company Limited, the incorporated firm will have its central office in Tiruchi, a leading district in banana production. Encompassing 40 banana grower societies, the company has been started in tune with government of India guidelines with Rs.1,000 provided as contribution by every member as equity share.
The State government would provide Rs. 45.80 lakh as aid in three years for organisational strength and business plan development.
The company, expected to be commissioned next month, would be a platform for the banana grower societies to integrate, identify the customers’ requirement and percolate them to member banana growers.
It would enable banana growers to interact and know the latest cultivation and marketing practices.
The company would sensitise member growers to the post-harvest procedures, grading, sorting and packing.
The immediate plan is to reduce post-harvest losses by setting up pack houses in banana growing districts including Tiruchi, Tuticorin and Theni, said its secretary G.Ajeethan, an agriculturist based at Mohanur in Namakkal district.
Tamil Nadu ranks first in banana production with the total area coverage being around 2.5 lakh acres. Tiruchi, Tuticorin, Theni, Cuddalore, Erode and Nagercoil are the major banana growing districts housing many banana clusters.
Traditional varieties such as ‘poovan,’ ‘karpoora valli,’ ‘neipoovan,’ ‘rasthali,’ red banana, ‘matti’ and ‘cavendish’ are raised in Tamil Nadu which has surpassed Maharashtra in average yield and productivity to reach the top slot. Banana varieties raised in the State were yet to penetrate north Indian markets in the absence of logistic support.
The whole objective of forming the company is to try to tap huge upcountry markets by perfecting logistics and seeking help from intervening agencies such as Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, said Mr. Ajeethan, also general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Banana Growers Federation.
Preliminary negotiations were held with authorities of the Kisan Mandi at New Delhi to showcase and market the produce in north Indian markets, he said.
