Visiting ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) for Collaborative Meeting for Community Development

In our ongoing efforts to enhance community development through agricultural innovation, our foundation visited the ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) for a collaborative meeting. This meeting aimed to explore potential areas of cooperation and leverage NRCB’s expertise in banana cultivation to benefit local farming communities. The meeting took place at NRCB’s headquarters, attended by senior scientists, researchers, and our foundation’s representatives. The session began with a presentation by Dr. Suresh, Senior Scientist, who provided an overview of the centre’s research initiatives, breakthroughs in banana cultivation, and ongoing community outreach programs. Our discussions focused on how these innovations could be extended to farmers in our target communities to enhance their livelihoods and promote sustainable agricultural practices. One of the primary topics was the introduction of high-yielding and disease-resistant banana varieties. NRCB’s scientists shared their research on new cultivars that have shown promise in various agro-climatic conditions. Our foundation proposed a collaborative project to distribute these improved varieties to local farmers, along with training on best practices for cultivation and disease management. Post-harvest management and value addition were also key areas of discussion. NRCB’s expertise in developing technologies for banana processing and preservation was highlighted as a valuable resource for farmers looking to diversify their income sources. Our foundation suggested joint workshops and training programs to equip farmers with the skills needed for value-added banana products, such as chips, flour, and beverages. The meeting also covered the importance of farmer education and capacity building. NRCB’s extension services and farmer training programs were identified as critical components for successful technology transfer. Our foundation proposed collaboration on organizing farmer field schools and demonstration plots to showcase innovative banana cultivation practices and technologies.