ICAR-NRC for Banana celebrates 28th Foundation Day

21^st July, 2021, Tiruchirappalli

The ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu celebrated its 28^th Foundation Day today.

In his address, the Chief Guest, Dr. S.K. Malhotra, Agriculture Commissioner, Government of India suggested for Tissue Culture Plants to attract lucrative prices in the export market, bio-stimulants to ensure quality planting materials and the expansion of label claim for newer chemical molecules to prevent the misappropriate use of unapproved chemicals in Banana cultivation. Dr. Malhotra also released the Institute’s various publications and 5 Podcasts during the occasion.

Dr. Anand Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), ICAR emphasized on taking the Banana cultivation to the next level by including the cutting edge technologies - AI, Internet of Things and complete transparent marketing system, etc.

Padma Shri Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, Former Director, ISRO; Dr. Pawan Kumar Singh, Director, IIM, Tiruchirappalli; Dr. M. Selvam, Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli and Dr. B.K. Pandey, ADG (Horticultural Science-II), ICAR marked their presence as the Guests of Honor during the occasion.

Dr. Tolety Janakiram, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. YSR Horticultural University, Andhra Pradesh; Dr. V. Venkatasubramanian, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Bengaluru; Shri Ajith Jain, Joint Managing Director, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd.; Shri. A.P. Karuppaiah, Chairman, TNBPCL and Shri G. Ajeethan, Managing Director, TNBPCL also virtually participated in the event.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Dr. S. Uma, Director, ICAR-NRC for Banana outlined that the Banana undergoes BVC 1 and BVC 2. The BVC 1 is known as the traditional value chain in which the small farmers sell their products in the nearby market destinations. The BVC 2 is the State-of-Art value chain that enables the farmers to sell their produce to both the major and independent dealers.

A Webinar on “Banana Value Chain and Marketing - New Business Horizons” was also held during the occasion as a part of the “Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav” to commemorate 75 Years of India’s Independence.

(Source: ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu)