Tue Dec 23 12:52:30 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article based on it:
Summary:
The National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) in Tiruchi, India, held a Farmers Day and Banana festival. Director R. Selvarajan announced the imminent release of a new, disease-resistant, and high-yielding banana variety called Kaveri Poovan. He also mentioned ongoing research on three more varieties and a proposed collaboration with ISRO to mitigate price fluctuations in the banana market. Experts emphasized the importance of banana cultivation for nutritional security and the role of technology in agriculture. The event included an exhibition, distribution of resources to farmers under the SCSP scheme, and a partnership agreement with the Vivekananda Trust to support tribal farmers.
News Article:
New Disease-Resistant Banana Variety to Boost Farmers’ Income, Says NRCB Tiruchi
Tiruchi, India – December 23, 2025 – Banana farmers in the Tiruchi region are set to benefit from a new disease-resistant and high-yielding banana variety, “Kaveri Poovan,” slated for release by Pongal, announced R. Selvarajan, Director of the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), during the Farmers Day and Banana festival held at the center today.
Developed after 20 years of research by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Kaveri Poovan variety boasts up to 25% higher yield than existing varieties and is resistant to common virus attacks. “Once the variety is officially released, about 40,000 suckers will be distributed to farmers,” Selvarajan stated.
The NRCB is also developing three additional banana varieties, expected to be released by August next year. A major research project in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also under proposal, aiming to stagger banana cultivation in the Tiruchi region to prevent market gluts and stabilize prices for farmers.
During the event, G. Byju, Director of ICAR–Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, highlighted the significance of banana cultivation for nutritional security. Moni Madaswamy, former Director General of National Informatics Centre (NIC), emphasized the need for enhanced IT infrastructure at the village level to promote agri-tech startups.
The event included the distribution of resources to approximately 200 beneficiaries under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) scheme and an exhibition showcasing advancements in banana cultivation and product development. A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed with the Vivekananda Trust to implement a development programme for tribal farmers in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Government Tribal Welfare Department.
With 60 banana by-products already developed by the NRCB, farmers are encouraged to adopt integrated farming practices to fully utilize the crop and enhance their incomes. The NRCB aims to support farmers in maximizing their output and creating more resilient livelihoods.
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