1. By Abdul Moiz Dept. of Food Engineering University of Agriculture Faisalabad

2. AN OVERVIEW OF BANANA BANANA is the 4th largest crop of the world. Banana is staple food for more than 70 million people in sub sharan africa. Banana is extensively grown in the lower part of Sindh(pakistan). The total share of Sindh province alone in its cultivation in the area is 87 per cent and 89 per cent in production. 3. The area under banana cultivation at the time of independence was only 117 hectares and the production reported was 368 M tons. According to Pakistan Statistical Year Book 2011,out of 34,8000 hectares 32,2000 hectares were grown in sindh province. 4. Sindh produced 127.4000 tones of banana. The average yield per hectare was 3957 kg in sindh . Average cost of production in sindh is RS 80,000 to RS 150,000. 5. AMAZING BOTANICAL FACT ABOUT BANANA: Bananas do not grow on trees. The banana plant is classified as an arbores cent (tree-like) herb . The banana itself is actually considered a BERRY. The correct name for bunch of bananas is a HAND of bananas; a single banana is a FINGER. 6. AGRONOMIC REQUIREMENTS OF BANANA: TEMPERATURE: 27C FOR OPTIMAL GROWTH. HUMIDITY:60% IS PERFABLE. PH:LESS THEN 8 ,BETWEEN 5-7. FERTILIZER: THE DEMAND OF NITROGEN AND POTASH IS HIGH IN BANANA. IRRIGATION: AFTER 3 DAYS UNDER HIGH EVAPORATION CONDITIONS, 15 DAYS UNDER LOW EVAPORATION CONDITIONS. 7. THREE KEY TIPS FOR HARVESTING: Harvest the fruit during the cool part of the day when possible. Shade the fruit during transport to the packing shed. Avoid delays in transporting the fruit to the packing shed. 8. TOOLS UTILIZED IN HARVESTING OF BANANA: The curved blade knife is used to cut the bunch when the fruit is not so high in the tree. 9. Otherwise it is necessary to use a long pole ended with a similar knife. 10. HARVESTING IS NOT THE END OF CARING FOR THE BANANAS: Carefully place individual green hands in plastic bags along with another ripening fruit, such as a red apple. The ripening fruit emits ethylene gas that the green banana uses to ripen. Place the bag in a dark area, such as a cabinet. Do not place in a refrigerator. The banana in the plastic bag should be removed in 24 to 48 hours and be allowed to finish ripening on its own. 11. POST HARVEST LOSSES : According to an estimation 10 to 40% of total produce is lost after harvesting: REASONS OF POST HARVEST LOSSES: Unskilled and Un educated labor Wrong use of technology (wrong operation of machinery) Wrong or delayed harvesting Early or delayed marketing Poor storage conditions Winter season 12. CONTROL STRATEGIES TO MINIMIZE POST HARVEST LOSSES IN BANANA: Post harvest losses in banana can be minimize by following these strategies: Minimizing bruising Prompt cooling to 14C (58F) Proper sanitation of handling facilities Hot water treatments [such as 5 minutes in 50C (120F) water] By providing Fungicide (such as Imazalil) treatment to control crown rot 13. POSTHARVEST PROCESSING OR VALUE ADDITION OF BANANA: WHAT IS VALUE ADDED?? Value added describes what happens when you take a basic product and increase the value of that product (and usually also the price) by adding extras in the manufacturing process, or by taking extra products and/or services. 14. An activity is considered value added when some customer is willing to pay more for the additional output. 15. WHY VALUE ADDED: For better income. For improved processing utilization To keep in-phase with customer need To provide variety of products To increase shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetable 16. VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS OF BANANA: Banana figs Banana puree Banana powder Banana flour Banana jam Banana beverages 17. MAJOR DISTRICTS OF BANANA CULTIVATION IN SINDH ARE: Major districts in Sindh where banana is grown are Thatta Hyderabad Badin Mirpurkhas Sangar Nawabshah khair pur and sukkhar. 18. MAJOR VARIETIES GROWN IN SINDH ARE: CAVENDISH DWARF (BARSAI) 98% (CONVENTIONAL VARIETY) 19. TISSUE CULTURED VARIETIES GRAND NINE BANANA WILLIAM HYBRID 20. Work is being done on three Chinese cultivar in PARC, islamabad PISHANG B-10 W-11 21. WHY CONVENTIONAL VARIETY IS PREFERED ?? Free of cost.(Suckers) Initial extra care is required in tissue culture varieties. Increased cost of production in case of TC variety. Chances of damages, during transportation. (TC variety) 22. MARKET ANALYSIS: Banana being perishable fruit needs careful handling, quick transport, sound packing and completions of operations on time. There are several factors which influence the efficiency of fruit marketing ,it includes rotting of products, seasonal viability ,quality , price and location. Banana producers avoid marketing because of perishable nature and unreliable prices. 23. TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS: Lack of modern technology and machinery. Only few big farmers are using new technology. Farmers feels hesitation for the use of new machines. Sad but true there is no research institute in sindh to solve the problem of growers. 24. SWOT ANALYSIS OF BANANA SECTOR: STRENGTHS: Availability of cheap labor. Fertile land. Interest of farmers and landowners in this sector. Availability of local and international markets. 25. WEAKNESSES: Lack of awareness Character of middlemen and contractor. Bad infrastructure. Lack of information about new technologies. 26. OPPORTUNITIES: Increasing demand locally and international markets. Introduction of new technologies New research and development in this sector. New research and techniques to control disease. 27. THREATS: Perishable product. Viral diseases. Post harvest handling. Plantation of unhealthy plants. 28. FAO- STATISTIC 2011-2012 29. BANANA WORLD IMPORT AND EXPORT STATISTIC: 30. BANANA- WORLD IMPORT PRICES: 31. BANANA WHOLESALES PRICES: 32. BANANA RESALES PRICES: 33. BANANA EXPORTS (WORLD STATISTIC): 34. BANANA EXPORTS BY REGION: 35. BANANA EXPORTS-MAJOR COUNTRIES: 36. BANANA IMPORTS (WORLD STATISTIC): 37. BANANA IMPORTS BY REGION: 38. BANANA IMPORTS MAJOR COUNTRIES: 39. THANK YOU