Indian banana can weather climate change

In India, bananas account for around 20 per cent of the total land area for crop cultivation
| Photo Credit:
KVS GIRI

The Indian staple, Desi Banana, can tolerate diseases and adverse weather conditions. Despite concerns being raised on the looming impact of climate change, it will survive the test of time, due to India’s geography and the regions for banana cultivation expanding across the country.

A recent report by UK NGO Christian Aid has warned that 60 per cent of the best banana growing areas are in danger from climate change-driven rising temperatures. The report showed that extreme weather, rising temperatures and climate related pests pose a threat to banana producing regions, sparking calls for faster emission cuts and more support for farmers. The report also included case studies, with one on banana production in India.

R Selvarajan, Director, ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana, told businessline that the Indian banana output will not be impacted much as instead of decline in cultivation, a shift is being seen to newer regions within the country where farmers are opting for the most favoured fruit. “There have been studies earlier too looking into the impact of climate change. What we have seen is that output has not been impacted, but there has been a shift in the region of cultivation. This is well documented,” he said.

In India, bananas account for around 20 per cent of the total land area for crop cultivation. “India has advantage over other banana-cultivating nations because we have diverse varieties and we grow it in both tropical, sub-tropical and also in semi arid zones. The climate impact may be more in the tropical regions than sub-tropical,” he said.

Moreover, in India the area of cultivation is expanding — newer regions like Uttar Pradesh are now among the top cultivators in the country. The cultivation is not restricted to southern parts of India like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh alone but moved to North as well as East. About 22 variety of banana is produced in the country.

According to the report, by 2050, India is expected to see a declining yield due to climate change and the Panama disease has returned in a new reincarnation, known as TR4, which has already spread from the Middle East through Southeast Asia, India, and Africa.

“India has been seeing increase in output and now 37 million tonnes from 1 million Ha area is being produced. Today, India tops in production among 135 banana producing countries and with regions expanding it will further strengthen our position,” he said adding “besides, new Cavendish mutants tolerant to TR4 of Fusarium wilt disease which threatens global banana are being tested in gardens of Surat and Bharuch in Gujarat,” Selvarajan said.

On being asked whether banana is a water guzzler, Selvarajan said excess of anything is bad. “If rightly monitored it is not the case,” he said.

‘Going bananas’

When asked what was the process adopted to do the research, Joe Ware, co-author of “Going Bananas: how climate change threatens the world’s favourite fruit” said “In terms of the process for reaching our conclusions, we undertook desk research, compiling research that had been recently conducted by academic experts.”

Asked what was the remedy according to him, he said “In terms of a remedy, we outline some recommendations in the report including cutting emissions and ensuring climate finance is directed to farmers to help them adapt to climate change.”

The report also points to the fact that “Despite being the world’s biggest producer, India is not a major banana exporter, ranking only 12th, at $2.52 million, by dollar value worth. Tamil Nadu, in the south, has the highest land area under banana production overall, but Maharashtra has the highest productivity, as it specialised in monocultures of Cavendish bananas, with higher density planting and use of irrigation.”

According to those who are into banana cultivation, most of India’s banana crop is for domestic consumption.