The climate change is compelling the growers of banana in Sindh to switch to other crops, observed researchers.
“We are facing extreme weather, like the severity of the previous winter, which destroyed banana gardens and growers were replacing the crop in many areas,” Prof Qazi Suleman Memon, who is a well-known researcher on the crop, soil and its diseases, said.
The growers of the cash crop are facing troubles as the recent heat waves and temperature are not favourable for the provincial banana gardens – mainly in lower Sindh, which produce 80 to 90 percent of banana in the country.
As a result, the declining production in these seasons as compared to the previous years is unavoidable, Professor Memon said.
“Banana needs tropical weather, while we have subtropical weather here in Pakistan, specifically in Sindh,” he said.
Memon was speaking at a two-day training workshop on ‘Banana Bunchy Top Virus Control and Management’, organised by Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam in collaboration with the USAID.
Banana producers from Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Badin, Thatta, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Naushahro Feroze and Khairpur attended the workshop, among others.
Banana is cultivated on around 30,000 hectares (74 acres) with its production standing at 126,000 tonnes.
Growers feared with the arrival of Indian banana, which is grown in tropical areas as well as subsidised, they would lose market share.
Local banana comes to market during August, September and October, which cannot compete with the Indian product, they said. The government allows import of Chinese banana, which creates further trouble, they added.
A banana grower and exporter Niaz Muhammed Nizamani called for proper awareness in growers about how to prevent virus infection and what they should do before the plantation.
Nizamani introduced the insect called aphid, which he said is found in banana and other crops, such as chilli.
He further said banana aphid lives in colonies and shifts from one garden to another. There is a need to avoid cultivation of other crops besides banana field to avert the contagious loss.
A banana grower normally spends Rs100,000 per acre on cultivation, care, fertiliser use and pesticides. His carelessness can incur him huge loss, said the progressive grower. Majority of banana farmers are smallholders, holding less than 20 hectares (49 acres).
Besides, bunchy top is considered to be the most devastating viral disease affecting bananas.
Sindh has two varieties of banana: Cavendish dwarf (Basrai) and Cavendish giant.
Earlier, Agriculture University Tandojam Vice Chancellor Dr Mujeebuddin Memon Sehrai hoped that the training would bring agri scientists, researchers and growers together to fight the deadly virus. Sindh is at the 40th number in banana producing places around the world.
Dr Memon said the training would let the growers understand the issues and problems from production to marketing.
It is the time farmers should gain knowledge, which will help them to improve their product and access to markets, he said.
Agriculture scientists and researchers of the agriculture university are struggling to transfer technology to farmers for their better livelihoods, said the VC.
Aiysha Gulzar, national coordinator of the Agri Business Project, supported by USAID, said banana bunchy top training is the second initiative of its kind to provide platform to farmer community to interact and share their knowledge in banana production and marketing mechanism in province.
Farmers are facing a lot of problems in the field of banana and chilli. This project will support the farmer community to improve their quality product for marketing. Ultimately, it will improve the livelihood of farmer community in future.
“We hope that we will be able to export banana to earn foreign exchange,” Aiysha said.
Prof Ismail Kumbhar, training coordinator project, hoped that the workshop would open the way for growers to learn through interaction and exposure visits.
Prof Kumbhar further added the university is empowering 1500 chilli growers of Umerkot district to improve their products quality. In this regard, a team of university’s experts are providing trainings to farmers through extension outreach programme.
Source: The News