Tamil Nadu: 'Geographical indication' branding to help tap banana export markets
MADURAI: Branding of banana with geographical indication (GI) could lead to various plantain varieties of Tamil Nadu reaching discerning consumers in the global market, said Dr Shakil P Ahammed, joint secretary, department of Agricul-ture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Delhi.
Speaking to DC on the sidelines of the 'National Festival 2017’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Tamil Nadu at Tamil Nadu Agricultu-ral University campus here on Friday, he said that traditional varieties of banana such as ‘poovan’, ‘karpooravalli’, ‘rasthaali’ and ‘Sirumalai’ banana have earned a unique place among banana lovers.
As of now, Tamil Nadu bananas were exported to countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE, but to tap markets in Japan and European countries which are opening up now, branding with geographical indication should be done for these traditional varieties, he said.
“Like the grape growers who standardised the quality of grapes for export by adopting GrapeNet, (an IT-enabled traceability system for the grape sector in India), banana growers should evolve similar system,” he said.
Banana cultivators could increase their profits by adding value to their products. For instance, one dozen of banana is being sold for Rs 30 in the market, but if is processed as banana powder, it could be sold for '200, he pointed out.
Earlier, addressing the gathering Dr Ahammed urged the government agencies, agricultural scientists and professors to work in coordination to assist the farmers with latest technology for improving their agricultural production.
Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Agricultural Production commissioner and principal secretary, State Agriculture department, said that, “India is the largest banana producing country in the world contributing 23 per cent of the total production.” Banana was cultivated in around three lakh acres in Tamil Nadu and 62 lakh tonnes of plantains are produced every year, he said. Even during the drought situation in the State, the government has been taking various steps to assist the banana growers. “For promoting hill and traditional varieties, we are providing assistance up to Rs 1 crore and for banana tissue cultivation, a subsidy of Rs 35,000 per hectare is given to farmers,” said Bedi.
