The ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli; Society for Promotion of Horticulture, Bangalore and Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT jointly organized the International Conference on Banana 2020 - "Innovations in Sustainable Production and Value Chain Management in Banana" at Trichy from 22nd to 25th February, 2020.
The Chief Guest, Dr. A.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), ICAR highlighted the significant contribution of horticultural sector in general and banana in particular to the national GDP. He stressed on addressing the emerging problems like TR 4 on priority basis as these have a potential to wreak havoc on Indian banana farmers. He emphasized on the need to introduce polyclonal cultivation rather growing only one banana variety that is highly susceptible to TR 4 wilt disease.
Dr. Alagusundaram, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Engineering), ICAR stressed on the need to reduce the post-harvest loss by adopting the better harvesting, handling, transport, packaging and cold chain management. He also emphasized on the value-addition and use of IoT in the value chain of banana.
Sivarasu, Collector, Tiruchirappalli District inaugurated a Banana Expo showcasing the vast diversity of bananas in the country and other banana related enterprises.
Sumathi Ramachandran, Post Master General, Trichy released a special postage cover marking the Silver Jubilee Year of establishment of the ICAR-NRCB during the occasion.
Earlier, Dr. S. Uma, Director, ICAR-NRCB briefed about the conference. The senior officials of ICAR and State Agricultural Universities were also present during the occasion
The dignitaries also released the various publications including the “Souvenir on ICB - 2020”, a Book on “Banana and Plantains” and Mobile Apps on “Banana information, its cultivation, export and value-addition, and pest and disease management”. An ELISA Kit developed under the ICAR-CRP on Vaccine and Diagnostic and a liquid formulation of banana Sakthi (a micro-nutrients mix) was also released during the occasion.
Over 500 delegates including banana researchers from 12 countries participated in the event. Around 45 people including 20 plant quarantine officials, scientists and students participated in the “Training on Foc TR 4” conducted by the ICAR-NRCB in collaboration with the Alliance Bioversity during the occasion.
A total of 180 banana varieties and 60 stalls related to banana industry were visited by more than 15,000 farmers, students and visitors during the event.
