ICAR-NRCB Releases New Banana Varieties

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB), Tamil Nadu, officially releases two new banana varieties: Kaveri Thangam and Kaveri Nadan. The release is in the news as it highlights biofortification, yield improvement, and post-harvest traits in banana varieties.

Newly Released Banana Varieties:

Dimension	Key Details
Kaveri Thangam: nutritional enrichment	Kaveri Thangam comprises a biofortified, premium-quality variety rich in Provitamin A, providing nearly 10 times higher Vitamin A than conventional banana varieties.
Kaveri Thangam: physical traits	It features golden yellow pulp, firm texture, and a unique aroma.
Kaveri Thangam: post-harvest shelf life	It possesses a post-harvest shelf life of 15 days.
Kaveri Thangam: pest resistance	It demonstrates natural resistance to banana weevils.
Kaveri Nadan: yield potential	Kaveri Nadan provides for yielding up to 75 tonnes per hectare, offering almost double the yield of traditional Nadan varieties.
Kaveri Nadan: farm productivity and risk	It is designed to enhance farm productivity and mitigate production risks under fluctuating climatic conditions.
ICAR-NRCB: establishment	ICAR-NRCB has been established in 1993 under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
ICAR-NRCB: headquarters	It is headquartered in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
ICAR-NRCB: mandate	It conducts basic and strategic research on crop improvement, biotechnology, natural resource management, and crop protection for banana and plantain.
ICAR-NRCB: post-harvest and export protocols	ICAR-NRCB develops post-harvest handling technologies, value-added products, and export-oriented protocols, including export pipelines for Nendran bananas.
ICAR-NRCB: climate-smart technology	It innovates climate-smart agricultural technology, including AI and sensor-based micro-irrigation systems to conserve water during extreme events like Super El Niño.