Environment News

ICAR-NRCB - Two New Banana Varieties

August 23 , 2026 10 hrs 0 min 32 0

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB) in Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, released two new banana varieties — Kaveri Thangam and Kaveri Nadan.
Kaveri Thangam is a premium variety with nearly 10 times higher vitamin A than conventional varieties, yellow pulp and a shelf life of 15 days.
Kaveri Nadan is a high-yielding variety that can produce up to 75 tonnes per hectare, nearly double the yield of regular varieties.
ICAR-NRCB is also promoting artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor-based irrigation to conserve water and help banana farmers manage climate-related challenges.
The centre will provide technical support for exporting Nendran bananas to the Middle East, with four clusters planned for export-oriented farmer producer organisations.