Mysuru: Sandalwood director Sumana Kittur on Friday highlighted the need to encourage farmers to grow food crops like bananas and other diverse crops, as large tracts of agricultural land are occupied by commercial crops like tobacco and hybrid maize.
She was speaking after inaugurating the three-day banana fair organised by Sahaja Samrudha and Akshayakalpa Organics in the city. The director of ‘Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu' appealed to farmers to cultivate different varieties of bananas to preserve diversity and also asked consumers to support them.
Horticulture deputy director Manjunath Angadi said the district has extensive banana cultivation. The fair opens up new possibilities for value addition and marketing of bananas. Head of the JSS Agricultural Science Centre, BN Gnanesh, emphasised the importance of preserving the famed Nanjangud rasabale variety, which is on the brink of extinction.
Various farmers were also felicitated for their contributions to preserving banana varieties. The fair showcases over 150 banana varieties, including rare varieties like pooja kadali, mattu, blue java, motta poovan, sahasra poovan, and chammatti. Exhibits include kari bale, kallu bale, and even a red banana variety. Varieties like elakki, Nanjangud rasabale, chandra bale, and nendran are also available.
Sahaja Samrudha director G Krishna Prasad and Manjappa Honnappanavar from Akshayakalpa Organics were present.