Banana growers no longer need to worry about raw bananas getting damaged in winds. The damaged immature bananas, which are usually disposed off leading to loss, can be turned into a value added product with better monetary benefits.
Scientists at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Virinjipuram, have now worked out a way to make use of the raw bananas that fall off from the trees in strong winds accompanying brief spells of rains. They have made pickles, powder and chips out of the immature bananas.
During winds, there is lodging of banana trees and several bunches of bananas are affected before attaining maturity, they said.
“Farmers in delta areas are aware of the windy season that usually occurs during November and December. But for those in a district like Vellore, winds occur suddenly during the south west monsoon between June and May. Caught unaware, the farmers face loss as several bunches of immature bananas go waste after being damaged in the wind,” M. Pandiyan, professor and head, ARS and KVK said.
The wind-damaged unripe bananas are not utilised and farmers throw away bunches as waste. This problem was raised by a farmer during a recent farmer’s grievance redressal meeting, he added.
Mr. Pandiyan along with two assistant professors of the centre K.P. Sivakumar and M. Prasanthrajan have come up with the value added products.
“We attempted to prepare value added products from the raw bananas, which otherwise go waste. We visited the field of the farmer, Chandrasekar, at Kavasampattu near Virinjipuram two months ago and brought two bunches of raw bananas that had fallen from the trees,” he said.
The scientists have prepared banana pickles, banana powder that is rich in starch content and can be used as a substitute for supplementary food and bakery products, and chips.
Usually, only fruits that have attained 85 to 90 per cent maturity are suitable for marketing.
“One bunch of matured bananas cost Rs. 250 in the market. It takes one year for the banana to mature. But if the raw bananas damaged in winds are turned into value added products, its market value is Rs. 1,500,” Mr. Pandiyan pointed out.
An added advantage is that the scientists have not used any chemical preservative for the pickle.
“KVK is ready to provide training to interested farmers. Women Self-Help Group members can also be trained,” he said.
