It is a first-of-its-kind attempt to cater to the needs of Indian Expatriates in the United Kingdom
Under a joint venture by the ICAR-National Research Centre on Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam, Kochi, Kerala, a consignment of 10 Tonnes of farm-fresh Nendran Bananas was shipped to London on March 8, 2021. It is a first-of-its-kind attempt to cater to the needs of Indian Expatriates in the United Kingdom.
In his address, Dr Anand Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), ICAR hoped that reduced shipping costs by sea to one-tenth of that required for air cargo will make Nendran Bananas cheaper for the Indian Expatriates from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He highlighted the emerging opportunities for the Indian Banana Exporters due to the decline in yields and exports from the other banana producers like Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador due to flood, drought, and fusarium wilt.
The Agricultural Production Commissioner, Government of Kerala mentioned the potential for exports of 2,000 Tonnes of Nendran per year from Kerala via sea in the future and the plan to set-up a pack house in Wayanad District for up-scaling the processing, packaging and exports of fruits and vegetables.
The shipment is expected to reach London well in time for sale in the markets of the UK and Scotland during Vishu, the Malayalam and Tamil New Year to be celebrated on April 14, 2021.
The ICAR-NRC on Banana imparted hands-on-training to the Banana farmers from Thrissur District on the scientific cultivation of Nendran following Good Agricultural Practices to produce export quality Nendran Bananas.