Centre to extend subsidy for banana cultivation

KADAPA:  Union ministry of agriculture has taken a decision to promote banana cultivation. As part of it, the centre has announced several subsidies for banana farmers in select districts throughout the country. Kadapa district is one of them.

Officials believe banana cultivation will receive further fillip in Kadapa this way, as the state government is already promoting banana along with other horticultural crops in the district by way of extending concessions under the Horticulture Integrated Development Mission.

If tissue culture banana seedlings are bought and planted, the state government sanctions a subsidy of Rs. 30,739 per hectare in the first year and Rs. 10,246 per hectare in the second year. However, this subsidy from government is available only to a few farmers. If the central government also starts subsidising farmers, it is hoped that the area under banana cultivation in Kadapa district will increase further.

Banana is grown on a large scale in Railwaykoduru, Rajampet, Pullampeta, Pulivendula, Vempalle, Vemula, Simhadripuram and Tondur mandals of the district. This year, bananas are being cultivated over 21,000 hectares across the district.

The main varieties being produced are amruthapani, karpura chakkerakeli, yalaki, bonta, sugandhalu, red banana, grand naine and so on.

However, during the recent rains, banana orchards got badly damaged in Railwaykoduru, Rajampeta, Pullampeta and other places. As a result, prices in the market have fallen sharply.

For this reason, banana farmers want authorities to take steps towards ensuring that the price of this fruit is always stable. Farmers also want special chambers to be set up for ripening bananas.