The National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) at Podhavur village near Tiruchi, a unit of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, has released a special micronutrient, ‘banana sakthi,' for enhancing crop productivity.
This is one of the major outcomes of researches taken up at the NRCB this year, said M. M. Mustaffa, director. He was speaking at the inaugural of an exhibition-cum-seminar on banana conducted as part of the foundation day celebrations of the NRCB on Saturday. Mr. Mustaffa said that the nutrient was a solution comprising a mixture of zinc, iron, copper and boron and should be sprayed on leaves during the fourth and fifth months of the season.
Giving away the ‘banana sakthi' to farmers present on the occasion, he said that there was a strong need for supplying micronutrients to the crop. Continued application of chemical fertilizers coupled with lack of awareness of its importance had resulted in serious shortfall of micronutrients, he said.
On other research findings, Mr. Mustaffa said that NRCB had evolved bio-control agents to control the banana wilt, a major disease in the crop. This apart, four nematodes posed a challenge and the NRCB had evolved and released the bio-control agent for each nematode.
The NRCB also worked on a special research programme to control the pest infection caused by banana stem weevil. “We have released a special bio-control agent, ‘beauveria,' which had gone a long way in controlling the problem.
On the current research programmes, he said the NRCB had initiated special efforts to contain the problem caused by the bunch-top virus and also for evolving a technology for setting up post-harvest handling and storage besides ripening of the produce.
In fact, it had been planned to start ripening centres at three centres including Tiruchi and Theni.
Banana farmers and a service organisation working for the cause of ecology were honoured with the annual award.
