The Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science and Crop Science) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Anand Kumar Singh, has dismissed reports suggesting that the National Research Centre for Banana, a premier research institution at Podavar in Tiruchi, is to be downgraded or merged with other institutes.
“Absolutely not,” was his response when asked whether there was any plan to downgrade or merge the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) with any other institute of the ICAR. Recent media reports had suggested that some of institutes of ICAR functioning in Tamil Nadu are to be reduced as sub-centres following a proposal to merge them with institutes in other States. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a group discussion of ICAR’s All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on fruits, Dr. Singh, however, declined to elaborate further on the topic. Answering queries, he said the ICAR was keen on promoting export of banana especially by tapping the demand among expatriates, who have a taste for traditional banana varieties, in foreign countries.
Later, inaugurating the group discussion Dr. Singh said banana could play a big role in increasing revenue for farmers. Doubling farmers income was possible if quality of production was ensured.
S. Nagoor Ali Jinnah, Chief General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chennai, called upon researchers of the NRCB to focus on climate change, water conservation and post harvest handling of the fruit. G. Ajeethan, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Banana Producers Company Ltd, called for the establishment of an incubation centre to support ventures on banana value added products.
