Now, agro-industrialists eye on banana for good returns

Innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs and agro-industrialists of Mysuru and its neighbourhood are exploring ideas to add value to get good returns on banana, a perishable horticulture-product.

Under Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Union government has selected banana for Mysuru, under ‘One District-One Product’ format. Thus, the focus is on banana, for self-reliance.

Mysuru-based CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI) is already conducting a training series, under the PM-FME scheme. The CFTRI is training a total of 500 entrepreneurs in batches of 50 persons each, for six days, from across Karnataka. So far, four batches have been trained. Some Mysureans have been trained on banana-based products.

According to P Vijayanand, chief scientist, Fruits and Vegetables Technology, CSIR-CFTRI, banana is one of the largest produced fruit in India and mainly consumed while it is fresh. “The excess production of banana results in drop in price and difficulty in marketing, hence there is a need for development of value-added products. It is a good source of carbohydrates, carotenoids, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre. CSIR-CFTRI has four main products of banana — fortified banana bar; banana pseudo stem beverage and beverage blends; raw banana powder; and banana pulp,” he said.

Banana pulp, extracted from mature ripe banana, is used to manufacture Fortified Banana Bar. Banana bar is highly acceptable, with chewy texture, colour and overall quality. The bar can be consumed as confectionary product and can be used as a concentrated source of energy in special rations designed for mid-day meals, expeditions and defence. It is suitable for consumption by children, adults, teenagers and aged people. Shelf-life of the product is about six months. Banana bar is a good source of energy and micro nutrients.

Banana pseudostem beverage and beverage blends are made from banana pseudostem, the flower stalk. It is an agricultural waste, after harvesting the fruit. The outer sheath of the stem is used for fibre extraction. The inner central core, packed with phenolics and minerals, can be used for development of different products. Juice from banana stem is a remedy for urinary disorders. It is of great help in the treatment for removal of stones in kidney, gall bladder and prostate.

Availability of the stem and extraction of juice are cumbersome. Hence, a technology is developed for preparation of a ready to serve beverage with a shelf life of three to six months, depending on the packaging material. The product can be consumed for its medicinal value. Due to its high content of phenolics, tannins and minerals, its consumption should be limited. Its astringent taste is masked by blending it with suitable fruit juices or spices, to render the product more palatable.

Raw banana powder is a rich source of carbohydrates, fibre, minerals and vitamins, free from sugars. CSIR-CFTRI technology facilitates the manufacture of raw banana powder under controlled conditions. Unripe, mature bananas, free from spoilage, with firm texture of any edible varieties, cavendish, nendran, elakki, rasbale, or poovan, can be used.

Bananas are washed, peeled, pretreated and dehydrated. Raw banana powder is packed in glass bottles or flexible food grade packaging materials in unit packs. It can be used as a food for different age groups and also in various culinary preparations, thickening agent, bakery products, desserts and other food preparations. It is used to make gruel or soup for children. The powder has a shelf-life of four months.

Banana pulp, packed in cans, have a shelf-life of up to one year. Frozen pulp can be used up to three months.

Besides, another Mysuru-based premier food research institute, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has developed technology for dehydrated banana and ‘freeze dried fruit slices and bits of banana’. These products serve as energy supplements.

Even entrepreneurs have their own vision on banana becoming the pride of Mysuru. “We need to process and pack banana, to increase shelf-life, retaining its taste and nutrition value. Thus, raw banana powder, banana fruit bar, bags from pseudostem and fibre, mats from the fibre, and banana stem juice are proposed,” said the entrepreneurs.

“It has to be noted that banana is a source of Vitamin B6, Fibre, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin C and Manganese. While popular varieties of banana grown in Mysuru are Yalakki or Elakki; and robusta (cavendish) or pachabaale. Nanjangud plantain is a special variety with Geographical Indication tag,” they point out.

K S Suhasini, Assistant Director for Agriculture, nodal officer for implementation of PM-FME Scheme, said, "Banana is grown in all eight taluks of Mysuru district. Our banana production is sufficient to meet the needs of the people of Mysuru and also neighbouring districts. If the produce is processed and marketed in a big way, it will help the farmers and it will also create more jobs.”

“This is a five-year project. A discussion is held with officials of Horticulture department and also interested entrepreneurs. Two resource persons have been appointed to provide information to farmers and entrepreneurs. Besides scientists and entrepreneurs are exploring new ideas,” she said.

“Bank loans up to Rs 10 lakh is available for new units, based on banana. 35% of the loan amount will be provided by Agriculture department as subsidy. Applications can be submitted online on: http://www.pmfme.mofpi.gov.in/pmfme/#/Home-Page,” she added.