5 months ago
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The cultivation country of the GI-tagged Nanjangud Banana (Rasabale), known for its distinctive sensation and grown exclusively successful and astir Nanjangud, has been gradually expanding owed to concerted efforts by scientists and horticulture officials.
With farmers present receiving a one-time subsidy of ₹60,000 for cultivating Rasabale, the harvest has been taken up successful astir 80 acres successful Nanjangud. Though immoderate farmers extracurricular the portion besides turn the variety, it cannot beryllium marketed arsenic Nanjangud Rasabale owing to geographical denotation (GI) restrictions.
A cardinal reason, according to scientists, for the diminution successful Rasabale cultivation successful earlier years was the outbreak of Panama wilt disease, which discouraged farmers from continuing with the crop. To reconstruct confidence, scientists and horticulture officials are moving successful ngo mode to present disease-control measures and supply steadfast planting material.
The Department of Horticulture, the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS), Bagalkot, and the JSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Suttur, with enactment from the National Centre for Banana, Tiruchi, person joined hands to support and revive this practice crop. The College of Horticulture, Yelwal (Mysuru), nether UHS, is besides contributing to the ongoing initiatives. Officials person acceptable a people of expanding the cultivable country by astatine slightest 50 acres each year.
Other GI-tagged crops, including Mysuru Mallige (jasmine) and Mysuru Veeledele (betel leaf), are besides being promoted alongside Rasabale nether a fund strategy aimed astatine boosting accumulation and enhancing worth addition. Jasmine is presently cultivated successful astir 5 hectares, portion veeledele covers astir 100 hectares successful Mysuru taluk.
Scientists from UHS person besides developed post-harvest and value-added products from Rasabale to amended its marketplace potential. These products were showcased astatine the GI Mahotsav 3.0, held connected the CSIR-CFTRI field successful Mysuru, wherever Rasabale and its products drew sizeable curiosity from visitors. Senior UHS scientists and horticulture officials briefed visitors connected the harvest and the revival efforts underway, including those for jasmine and betel leaf.
Expressing assurance successful further expanding Rasabale cultivation, Joint Director of Horticulture Manjunath Angadi said the harvest country is gradually expanding and urged farmers to utilise the subsidy and method enactment being provided.
Girigowda Manjunath, Associate Professor, College of Horticulture, UHS, Mysuru said, “The biggest setback for Rasabale was Panama wilt disease, which discouraged farmers and led to a crisp diminution successful cultivation. We are present addressing these challenges with effectual solutions and helping farmers regain confidence. Our efforts are yielding affirmative results.”
