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ICAR-NRCB Releases New Banana Varieties
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB), Tamil Nadu, officially releases two new banana varieties: Kaveri Thangam and Kaveri Nadan. The release is in the news as it highlights biofortification, yield improvement, and post-harvest traits in banana varieties.
Newly Released Banana Varieties:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Kaveri Thangam: nutritional enrichment | Kaveri Thangam comprises a biofortified, premium-quality variety rich in Provitamin A, providing nearly 10 times higher Vitamin A than conventional banana varieties. |
| Kaveri Thangam: physical traits | It features golden yellow pulp, firm texture, and a unique aroma. |
| Kaveri Thangam: post-harvest shelf life | It possesses a post-harvest shelf life of 15 days. |
| Kaveri Thangam: pest resistance | It demonstrates natural resistance to banana weevils. |
| Kaveri Nadan: yield potential | Kaveri Nadan provides for yielding up to 75 tonnes per hectare, offering almost double the yield of traditional Nadan varieties. |
| Kaveri Nadan: farm productivity and risk | It is designed to enhance farm productivity and mitigate production risks under fluctuating climatic conditions. |
| ICAR-NRCB: establishment | ICAR-NRCB has been established in 1993 under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). |
| ICAR-NRCB: headquarters | It is headquartered in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. |
| ICAR-NRCB: mandate | It conducts basic and strategic research on crop improvement, biotechnology, natural resource management, and crop protection for banana and plantain. |
| ICAR-NRCB: post-harvest and export protocols | ICAR-NRCB develops post-harvest handling technologies, value-added products, and export-oriented protocols, including export pipelines for Nendran bananas. |
| ICAR-NRCB: climate-smart technology | It innovates climate-smart agricultural technology, including AI and sensor-based micro-irrigation systems to conserve water during extreme events like Super El Niño. |