Banana cultivation is a key livelihood for small and marginal farmers, particularly in
India, which is the world’s largest producer of bananas, contributing approximately
35.36 million metric tons annually, about 26.45% of global production. Despite its
economic importance, banana farming in India faces significant challenges, including
pest infestations, viral and fungal diseases, and poor propagation practices. Viral
infections such as Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) and soil-borne diseases like Fusarium
wilt can cause yield losses of up to 50–70% in affected regions. This project aims to
address these challenges by promoting the use of tissue culture-derived, disease-free,
high-yielding banana plantlets in combination with biopriming using beneficial
microorganisms to boost plant health, stress tolerance, and nutrient efficiency. The
integrated approach is designed to improve crop yield, reduce dependency on
chemical inputs, and ultimately increase farm income. Capacity-building and training
programs will be conducted to facilitate the adoption of these technologies at the
grassroots level. This research holds national importance in advancing sustainable
agriculture, improving rural livelihoods, and supporting food and nutritional security in
India.
The Project aims to enhance the income and sustainability of small and marginal
banana farmers in India by developing and deploying virus-free, bioprimed banana
plantlets with improved disease resistance and productivity.
Specific Objectives:
Background: Small and marginal banana farmers in India are facing Challenges with poor Quality disease .
Two years (2025 – 26 and 2026 – 27)
The Primary Objective of the field study is:
Background: Agricultural intensification has led to increased water demand, soil degradation, and higher GHG emissions. Conventional tillage disrupts soil structure, leading to moisture loss, while traditional surface irrigation results in inefficient water use and nutrient leaching. On the other hand, currently, we do not have enough knowledge about the implications of zero tillage vis-à-vis Netafim SDI equipment in a systems approach mode. Therefore, we must address this research gap at field level to enhance our solution basket. Rationale:
a) Zero Tillage (ZT): Reduces soil disturbance, reduced risk of damaging subsurface driplines (main advantage to Netafim), conserves moisture, enhances soil organic carbon, and reduces fuel-related CO2 emissions.
b) Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI): Delivers water and nutrients directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation losses, improving WUE, and allowing for precise fertigation enhancing nutrient use efficiency and reducing GHG gases.
c) Maize–Vegetable Cropping System: This diversified sequence ensures better nutrient cycling, soil fertility management, and resource optimization besides enhancing system productivity and profitability.
d) Sustainable intensification: Integrating subsurface drip irrigation & fertigation with ZT in a systems approach has the potential to create a resilient, resource-efficient, and climate- smart agricultural model.
a) What is the commercial potential of your research project?
▪ A market of 7.5 mill acres in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Telangana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states of India
b) Are there additional potential impacts (environmental, knowledge transfer, decision-
making, etc.)?
i) Agronomic Impact:
▪ Increased crop yields due to optimized water and nutrient availability.
▪ Enhanced soil health with improved organic matter content and microbial activity.
ii) Resource-Use Efficiency:
▪ Significant improvement in water-use efficiency (WUE) and nutrient-use efficiency
(NUE).
▪ Reduction in water and fertilizer requirements due to efficient delivery systems.
iii) Environmental Sustainability:
▪ Reduction in GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) through improved soil carbon
sequestration and efficient resource use.
▪ Mitigation of soil erosion and degradation, promoting long-term sustainability.
iv) Economic Benefits:
▪ Improved profitability due to reduced input costs and higher yields.
▪ Scalability of the integrated system for adoption in diverse agro-ecological regions.
c) What is your target market and geography segment? Is it relevant to other territories?
▪ Row field crop growers in India. Relevant to extensive crops in arid, semi-arid and sub-
humid regions of Indonesia, China, Thailand, Vietnam etc.
The details of the collaborative partners involved in this research project, including their
roles and the required personnel are given below.
| Partner | Role | Personnel required | Personal (days) | Gaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Netafim |
Technician / Operator |
2 |
30 days |
|
|
Netafim |
Agronomic Manager |
1 |
60 days |
|
|
Academic |
Research Associate |
1 |
2-Crop seasons |
|
|
Progressive
Grower |
Crop management &
Facilitator |
1 |
2- crop seasons |
a) Study Area:
▪ Location: Either Karnataka or Telangana states
▪ Soil Type: Sandy loam to clay loam
▪ Climate: Semi-arid climate
b) Key Activities:
| July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
System Installation |
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|
|
Maize Crop |
Legume Vegetable Crop |
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|
|
Soil, Crop, Water & GHG measurements & Tabulation |
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|
|
Data Analysis |
Content |
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|
|
Final
Report |
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A detailed breakdown of the project budget, covering costs such as equipment,
personnel, operation & maintenance, sub-contractors, lab analyses, and travel are given below.
| Particulars | Budget (USD) for 2025 - 26 |
|---|---|
|
Irrigation system & equipment |
1500 |
|
Personnel |
1000 |
|
Operation & Maintenance |
700 |
|
Lab analysis (nutrient & GHG) |
1800 |
|
Travelling Allowance |
1000 |
|
Total Cost per year |
6000 |
Kaveri University was established as per the Telangana Private Universities (Establishment & Regulation) Act, 2018 under section 3.
