Enhancing Banana (Musa sp.) productivity through micronutrient application and technological interventions

Banana (Musa sp.) is one of the most important fruit crops globally. However, its productivity is decreasing year by year. Therefore, there is an urgent need to enhance productivity to meet domestic demand, commercial markets and export requirements. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Vamban, Pudukkottai, conducted Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) on the micronutrient mixture IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research) Banana Special during 2016-17 and 2017-18 to increase the marketable bunches of bananas. Technological interventions such as pairing and pralinage, desuckering, propping, denaveling, foliar application of micronutrients, bunch covering, soil application of biocontrol agents, crop rotation, mulching and plant protection measures led to an increase in bunch weight and yield by 20 % with a benefit-cost (B:C) ratio of 3.7 in demonstrated plots, compared to 3.4 in control plots. Promoting eco-friendly production technologies and integrating indigenous technical knowledge with modern cultivation techniques is critical. Moreover, supporting farmers with subsidies or loans for small-scale processing units is recommended.