Imphal, July 01 2009: With the main objective of increasing Banana production in the State so as to export the surplus to augment the income of the State as well as of the farmers, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation has started distributing Banana seedlings among the farmers from today.

The distribution of seedlings of Grand Nine, a type of Banana, under the Technology Mission was held during a function at the horticulture complex of the Department at Mantripukhri today.

Commissioner of Horticulture and Soil Conservation BB Sharma and Director of the Department K Ngachan attended the function as chief guest and president respectively.

District Horticulture Officers of Imphal West, Imphal East and Tamenglong District were also present at the occasion.

Speaking in the function, BB Sharma noted that Banana is one of the most nutritious fruit which has great demand in the market.

So farmers can take up proper cultivation of Banana and increase their income.

Director of Technology Mission in Manipur Kh Ratankumar said that the seedlings of Grand Nine have been brought from Jalgaon of Maharashtra.

The cultivation of Grand Nine is different from the normal Banana plants grown in Manipur.

So the farmers should understanding the technique of cultivating Grand Nine for reaping the full benefit.

The Department is planning to send a team of farmers from here to Maharashtra to undergo training on plantation of Grand Nine, he disclosed.

It may be noted here that under the Area Expansion Programme of the Technology Mission, the Dept is keeping the target of distributing 5.5 lakhs seedlings to the farmers.

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