Thiruvananthapuram: National Banana Festival, a confluence of researchers in the field of banana cultivation and banana farmers from across the country, began at Vellayani Temple Ground in Kalliyoor grama panchayat on Saturday. Inaugurating the fest, Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said that the government aims to double the production of bananas by 2025. Kerala government had declared 32 special agricultural zones. Radha Mohan Singh said that the state's efforts is going to help increase the productivity of crops native to those regions, in turn improving the state's agriculture sector.
The festival also explores the concept of organic banana farming. Presiding over the inaugural event, tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said that healthy food was the only solution to various lifestyle diseases. He said that while life expectancy has increased, and people stopped celebrating the 60thor 70th birthdays, there was also a rising incidence of cancer. Even as more people were awakened to the danger of pesticides used in vegetables, the concept of organic bananas was yet to catch on, according to CISSA General Secretary C Suresh Kumar.
"Most don't know that organic banana cultivation is cost effective and also increases yields. Many farmers in Thiruvananathapuram including the ones associated with Thanal have proven this. There is Sangamaitri, a collective of farmers, of which 95% of banana produce is pesticide-free. It is a silent revolution," he said. The festival is organised by CISSA in partnership with Kalliyoor Grama Panchayath, Regional Centre of Expertise, and Mitraniketan Vigyan Kendra. It is supported by various central and state government agencies including Indian Council of Agricultural Research. There is also an exhibition held as part of the five-day festival. It was inaugurated by Suresh Gopi MP.
