The Hindu : Karnataka News : Going bananas over the small fruit Field notes

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Friday, Apr 04, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Going bananas over the small fruit Field notes

The market price for banana remains consistent all through the year

Profitable: The banana crop, which assures remunerative price, does not demand extensive maintenance.

Chitradurga district is famous for producing the “putta balehannu” or “yelakki balehannu.”

The name putta (small in Kannada) is given for its size. The variety is popular mainly for its sweetness. The fruit, considered good for digestion, is traditionally served in most of the functions after the meal.

According to officials in the Horticulture Department, about 1,800 farmers are growing banana on over 3,000 hectares of land in the district.

The crop, which assures remunerative price, does not demand extensive maintenance. With an investment of about Rs. 35,000 an acre, a farmer can earn a minimum profit of Rs. 70,000 a year.

The yielding period for the crop is 12 months. Each acre can yield around 10 tonnes of produce for a maximum of three years if maintained well. The annual maintenance cost will be about Rs. 25,000.

“Though other varieties such as “ras bale,” “robust” and “grand nine” are also cultivated in the district, farmers prefer to cultivate “putta bale,” said P. Vishwanath, technical assistant in the Horticulture Department.

He said that the district produces over 87,000 tonnes of banana, of which “putta bale” comprises over 45,000 tonnes.

He said that since the district lacks irrigation facilities and the fruit demands more water, most of the farmers have adopted drip irrigation.

Mr. Vishwanath cautioned the farmers against the attack of dangerous pest, Panama Wilt. He said that if infected, the pest starts decaying the roots and cracking the stem.

However, he said that pesticides are easily available to prevent the damage.

He advised the farmers to plant the saplings during July and August for better yield.

Ashfaq Ahmed, a farmer of Hiriyur taluk, who has cultivated “putta balehannu” in his two acre land said that since the fruit has good market, farmers get equal price in every season.

The market price consistently remains between Rs. 18 to Rs. 20 a kg all through the year.

The farmers make more profit during wedding and festival seasons, he said.

To promote the cultivation, the department under the National Horticulture Mission, is extending a subsidy of Rs. 15,000 a hectare for maximum of four hectares in two installments, said Headquarters Assistant, Rekha.

She said that for the first year of cultivation, Rs. 10,500 would be given as subsidy, while for next year’s maintenance, Rs. 4,500 would be given.

FIROZ ROZINDAR IN CHITRADURGA

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