A workshop on “Sirumalai” a GI tagged banana, on its cultivation and pest and disease management” in Sirumalai hills of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, was organized by ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Tiruchirappalli, jointly with the Department of Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Government.
The Chief Guest, Dr. R. Selvarajan, Director, ICAR-NRCB emphasized the establishment of FPOs which will pave the way for the rejuvenation of the sirumalai hill banana. He deliberated on the present-day advancements like tissue culture plantlets, automation in irrigation & fertigation, on-line trading and efforts to be taken by the association for acquiring a separate trade mark to sirumalai banana Panchaamirtham.
Shri J. Perumalsamy, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Dindigul, during his welcome address, gave a glimpse of Sirumalai Hill banana cultivation and the problems hindering their cultivation.
Shri Kaviarasu, Sirumalai Panchayat President in his special guest address indicated the medicinal properties of Sirumalai banana. He said to protect this fragrant variety from emerging pests and diseases use of quality planting material is a pre-requisite for which they sought the technical support of ICAR-NRCB. They also emphasized on Minimum Support Price for Sirumalai banana to make the sirumalai banana cultivation, a sustainable and profitable venture.
ICAR-NRCB also distributed liquid bio-formulation of Beauveria bassiana that gives protection against banana stem and corm weevil along with leaflets on Banana production Technology, Value addition and Agri- Business incubation. Around 60 farmers participated and were benefited from the workshop.