HDP in Grand Naine variety
Most of the farmers opined that banana is a highly risky crop for the small land holders. A few institutes have released different technologies for increasing the productivity of banana. High density planting with paired row Zig Zag is one such technology developed by ICAR -National Research Centre – Banana, Thiruchirapalli. This technology helps the farmers to earn higher profits from limited land resources.
In this connection, KVK Hirehalli has implemented a Front Line Demonstration (FLD) on High Density Planting of Banana with paired row method in the field of field Shri. Mahesh, progressive farmer from Makanahalli village of Tumakuru taluk. He was a banana farmer specialized in the cultivation of G-9 variety and Yelakki. His average annual income from banana farming was INR 1.47 lakhs /ha. KVK Hirehalli selected him as a beneficiary farmer for the FLD – High density planting in banana, a NRCB technology. The KVK trained him on the technology and he planted the banana at a spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 x 2.0 mt in a paired row with zig zag method of planting, unlike conventional planting of 2 x 2 mt.
In this HDP method he could plant 5200 plants per hectare in place of 2500, as in conventional method. Though in conventional method, bunch weight of planting was 20.5 kg, his productivity was 578 qt/ha only. Whereas in this HDP method, though the bunch weight was 17.2 kg (3 kg less than conventional), productivity was of 760 qt /ha (more than 180 kg than conventional), due to more number (almost double) of plants per hectare. This increased his income level to Rs. 3.82 lakhs / ha per annum with a B: C ratio 3.54.
Now Sri. Mahesh is following High Density Planting in banana with different varieties Viz., Yelakki bale, Puttabale etc., and earning more profit. High density planting helps the plants to utilize water and fertilizer more efficiently through increased root density and plants resist winds more effectively. Cost for staking was also considerably reduced, he said. Now, seeing the success of Sri. Mahesh, other farmers of the demonstrated area also want to cultivate banana in this method.
HDP in Yelakki bale variety
