The Department of Agriculture has deputed four officials for a six-day hands-on training programme at the ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, from November 24 to 29, 2025, aimed at developing tissue culture protocols for region-specific banana varieties of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The training focuses on equipping officials with scientific expertise to standardise tissue culture techniques for indigenous banana varieties, including the Korangi banana, locally known as Hill Banana, regarded as one of the tastiest varieties, and the red banana Chenkadali, also known as Chevvazhai. Officials said the initiative marks an important step towards promoting local banana cultivation through advanced and sustainable agricultural practices.
According to the department, the programme is intended to strengthen local capacity for producing disease-free planting material and reduce dependence on external sources for banana saplings. The knowledge gained during the training will be used to develop protocols suited specifically to the agro-climatic conditions of the islands, ensuring higher survival rates and improved productivity.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands already have an operational tissue culture laboratory at the Organic Horticulture Farm in Sippighat. The facility is equipped with modern infrastructure to produce healthy and disease-free tissue-cultured banana plantlets. With the specialised training at NRCB, officials said the laboratory’s technical capabilities will be further enhanced, enabling consistent and reliable production of high-quality plantlets of local banana varieties.
Department officials noted that strengthening in-house expertise is expected to benefit farmers across the islands by ensuring timely access to quality planting material. The initiative also aims to encourage sustainable cultivation practices, improve crop uniformity, and increase yield potential, particularly for indigenous varieties that are well adapted to local conditions.
As the training progresses, the department plans to scale up tissue culture production at the Sippighat facility and expand support to local banana growers. By combining advanced scientific methods with traditional crop knowledge, the department seeks to safeguard indigenous banana varieties that are an important part of the islands’ agricultural and cultural landscape.
Officials added that improved production capacity and technical skills will help empower local farmers, enhance farm incomes, and contribute to overall horticultural growth in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The initiative is also viewed as a step towards long-term sustainability, ensuring the conservation and commercial viability of region-specific banana varieties while meeting the growing demand for high-quality planting material.
