Hi?
Last week I met with Principl; scientist Uma at her office, had discussion on my question about 1000 banana fruit plant.
Reply was very simple as it is not edible.
Further I had a visit to their model farm about 30 acres (our Siddaramesh @ Hiriyur having more or less of same extent) in which interesting root stocks under research. Our Yelakki, Nanjangudu Rasabale, Boodu Baale(Karpuravalli in Tamil), Kamalapura Kembale( Sevvale in Tamil) and other more varieties are available.
Yield is average in their trails because they have their own limits/obstacles to get optimum results.
This G9 is nothing but blind copy past of Western culture how our Indians adopted loosing world famous Indian culture where all other countries are adopting and cultivating both of our culture & Agriculture practices. (When I met Mr.Paul Allan of Germany became Nishtha to learn Sanskrit and dedicated serve & enlighten our Rigveda @ Auroville & Agriculture (The same Nishtha also recollects vedic lessons on Agriculture)
The old young man Mr.Sundaram is achieved a record of 90kg banana which is more than his height of 6 feet.
Again I remember that a knowledgeable Farmer is better than University as the said Sundaram can inject nutrients to Banana as Doctor gives injunction to a patient to enhance its growth.
Again coming back to G9, it is adopted by most of the countries, because of it is very simple to multiply it in Tissue culture lab.
Hence copy paste the technology to produce easily. No one dares to take risk of introducing our Indian Indigenous Yelakki Banana which is famous not only in India, but in Foreign too. The true fact is Yelakki Banana has got more value added products in abroad the in India, hence it is exporting too.
Our Tamil Nadu Farmers grow G9 only to send them to Bangalore and they grow our Boodu Baale (Karpuravally in tamil) along with other desi banana varieties for theirs consumption.
Highest fingers in a Hand is 34 which I have seen in my last weeks visit to TN. Few farmers cultivating Yellow Moris (Dwarf variety) and getting decent income.
Farmers are having records of having earnings of about 3,00,000 in 15 months from Banana.
Yelakki is not came down below Rs.20/- from past 3 years, where G9 is not raised up to Rs.20/- at the same time.
No matter of variety, we can try our level best with love and care for our indigenous varieties which are in endangered stage.
With love from the farmers I have collected Udayam & Moris varieties for my database. Trying to get Kamalapura kembale, Nanjangudu Rasa Baale.
2nd Photo- Sundaram with his Banana bunch & Principle Scientist Uma of our premier institute for Banana research at tirchy.
All the best for Banana lovers.