Best banana variety Jalgaon, Grand Naine G9 tissue culture, commercial kela cultivation Maharashtra
Which banana (kela) variety is best for commercial planting in Jalgaon, Maharashtra?
SSunil Patil1yr ago · 559 views
4 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓1yr ago
Grand Naine (G9) tissue culture is the most widely planted commercial banana in Jalgaon and across Maharashtra. It gives uniform growth, disease-free planting material, early and even bunch maturity in about 11 to 12 months, and bunch weight of 25 to 35 kg under good management. Use certified tissue culture plants from an accredited lab, plant at roughly 1.5 to 1.8 m spacing (around 1200 to 1450 plants per acre depending on layout), and follow drip irrigation with fertigation. Jalgaon's hot climate and the Tapi belt soils suit G9 very well, which is why it dominates the local trade. Confirm current recommended spacing and the nearest accredited tissue culture supplier with Jalgaon Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
SSunil Patil1yr ago
I shifted from suckers to G9 tissue culture three years back in Raver tehsil. The plants are uniform and the bunch harvest comes together, which makes selling to traders much easier. Just budget for good drip and regular fertigation.
AAnand Bhole1yr ago
G9 is the safe choice for most growers, but if you sell into a local market that pays extra for a thicker finger, ask your KVK whether a clone like Grand Naine selections or a regional improved type suits your buyers. I grow a small block of a second type just to test the rate before committing more area.
YYogesh Mahajan1yr ago
One caution from our side near Chopda: G9 is tall and bunches are heavy, so propping with bamboo or polypropylene twine before the bunch fills out saves you from wind lodging. We lost plants one year to a pre-monsoon storm because we propped late. Plan the propping cost into your budget.