SUSTAINABLE BANANA (MUSA SPP.) PRODUCTION IN THE TAPI BASIN: KHANDESHI FARMER'S LIVELIHOOD
Khandeshi farmers, cultivating bananas in the Tapi river basin, have no alternative than adopting sustainable production practices, including management of natural resources, due to ongoing deterioration of soils, high annual nutrient turnover in banana (Musa spp.) eco-systems, overexploited water reservoirs and stagnation of banana production.
Possible ways to meet the growing demand of qualitative and quantitative increase in banana production include: (a) fostering the farmers co-operative movement in the region; (b) utilizing tissue culture derived and/or naturally selected high yielding cultivars; (c) adequately applying soil conditioners (organic manure and fly ash); (d) appropriately managing irrigation; (e) increasing the vitality through application of amino-acid based plant growth regulators; and (f) preserving soil health through implementation of eco-friendly technologies.
The latter may include the individual or combined application of (a) soil conditioner after its production from banana orchard waste; (b) efficient bio-fertilizers specially developed for the banana mycorrhizal sphere; (c) coal-combustion ash as a source of micro-nutrients; and (d) judiciously applied doses and frequencies of chemical fertilizers and irrigation water.
Adoption of these sustainable production practices would help Khandeshi farmers to conserve and recycle the available natural resources, protect their environment, develop profitable farming systems and enhance the quality of their livelihood.
Overall possibilities for improving sustainability in banana production in the region are discussed.
Phirke, N.V. and Mahorkar, V.K. (2010). SUSTAINABLE BANANA (MUSA SPP.) PRODUCTION IN THE TAPI BASIN: KHANDESHI FARMER'S LIVELIHOOD . Acta Hortic. 879, 517-525
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.879.56
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.879.56
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.879.56
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.879.56
bio-fertilizers, fly ash, plant growth regulators, soil conditioners
English