ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB), Tiruchirappalli, organised a 3-day training programme from 12th–14th March 2025, aimed at enhancing the agricultural knowledge and skills of 25 women tribal farmers from the Kolli Hills region of Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. This training initiative focused on empowering these women through advanced techniques in hi-tech banana cultivation, post-harvest management, and value-added technologies.
In Kolli Hills, banana cultivation spans approximately 1000 hectares, and the training aimed to equip the participants with the latest practices in banana farming. The key topics covered during the sessions included scientific banana cultivation, integrated farming systems, integrated pest and disease management, post-harvest management, and value addition. Emphasis was also placed on enhancing product quality and marketability, and exploring export opportunities. Additionally, government schemes and financial support were discussed to facilitate the growth of banana farming.
The training programme, led by ICAR-NRCB experts, featured comprehensive hands-on demonstrations and field visits. Participants were provided with practical exposure to advanced techniques such as clump management, drone-based farm monitoring, and automatic irrigation and fertilization systems at the ICAR-NRCB’s research farm. A visit to the Thottiyam Banana Grower Federation, part of a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), offered valuable insights into successful agri-business models and opportunities in the banana value chain.
Dr R. Selvarajan, Director, ICAR-NRCB, distributed 100 tissue culture banana plantlets to each woman farmer, including the fragrant banana variety ‘Manoranjitham,’ which is nearing extinction in the region. He assured the farmers that specialized training on fiber extraction and stem juice preparation would follow and announced the free distribution of a unique local variety from Kolli Hills, Numaran, to promote its conservation.
To facilitate continuous communication, a dedicated WhatsApp group was created, allowing the women farmers to interact with scientists and receive guidance on addressing field-level challenges.
The event was coordinated by Dr C. Karpagam and Dr A. Mohanasundaram, with support from a team of scientists and technical experts, ensuring the success of the programme.
The women farmers expressed their gratitude for the training and expressed their eagerness to apply the newfound knowledge to improve their farming practices and contribute to the region’s agricultural growth.
Article Credit: icar.org