Tips to boost banana yields with smart farming techniques

Hajipur: Banana farming is a money-making choice for farmers, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. It flourishes in fertile, well-drained loamy soil and requires temperatures between 20°C to 35°C. Farmers have to choose high-quality varieties such as Grand Naine, G-9, and Red Banana. Besides this facility of proper irrigation, organic fertilizers and pest control are necessary for getting better production and fetching sufficient income for farmers.

Banana farming needs proper care for achieving quality and quantity. Keep some important tips for the decent growth of bananas. As banana plants grow, their lower leaves dry up and can damage the fruit. Farmers need to remove these dry and unhealthy leaves regularly through a sharp knife. This practice will stop the spread of disease, improve air circulation and sunlight penetration, and help in controlling pest infestation.

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Soil around the plants often erodes during the rainy seasons. Farmers will have to mound soil around the base to prevent the plants from toppling due to strong winds, especially when the heavy fruit bunches develop. For tall varieties, providing support with bamboo sticks or nylon ropes ensures stability and prevents damage.

Once fruit bunches begin to form, they often bend the plant toward one side. If exposed to direct sunlight, the fruit may lose quality. To protect those, farmers can cover bunches with plant leaves or transparent punctured polythene bags, which also enhance fruit colour and appearance. Covering bunches has additional benefits, such as reducing damage from pests like scarring beetles and preventing fungal infections caused by direct sunlight.

Banana growers should adopt these modern techniques, like pruning dry leaves, providing proper support, and covering fruit bunches. These will not only boost the quality of the fruit but the quantity will also go up.