Tech to enhance shelf life of bananas on cards

B V Mahalakshmi in Hyderabad

Having tasted the success of new exportable varieties in mangoes and grapes, the focus is now shifted to the poor man’s fruit, the banana. APEDA has identified about six premium varieties of bananas gorwn widely in Andhra Pradesh including ‘Chekrakeli’ which is grown in Krishna and Godavari districts in the state besides Amruthpani and dwarf Cavendish.

According to Prof YN Reddy of NG Ranga Agricultural University Hyderabad, who had developed a technology, that can increase the shelf value of bananas by 10 to 20 days. He had experimented on Chekrakeli variety which has proved to have a life of 20 days without any deterioration under required cold storage facilities. In an exclusive interview with The Financial Express, Mr Reddy said that he proposes to patent the technology for increasing the shelf life of bananas with the assistance of APEDA. “This variety has good potential because of its colour, flavour and appearance which in turn, is useful for stepping up exports. Hence I have plans to patent this technology”, Mr Reddy said.

It is round and of light green colour he adds. Because of its uniqueness, these bananas can be exported to European, SE Asian and Gulf countries. At present, on an average nearly 50 tonnes of mostly dwarf Cavendish are exported from India to Nepal and Bangladesh. Most of the production is consumed locally.

Andhra Pradesh accounts 10 per cent of the total production of 50 lakh tonnes. Because of poor shelf life, bananas are not exported to any Western countries. Many varieties like Nanjangud Rasaballe, Poovan, Yelakki balle, Nendran, etc, though rich in flavour and appearance, do not have a shelf life of even three days and turns black before the consignment reaches Delhi.