Mitta Champa – a local banana cultivar

Mitta Champa is a local cultivar in the Island and cultivated since ages and more prevalent in Andaman group of Islands. This variety is slowly vanishing from the Island as per the information received from farmers of South Andaman. This cultivar is grown in homestead gardens and most preferred for table purpose. The variety is medium sized growing to a height of 2-2.5 m. Fruits are medium sized with shiny silky skin, very sweet in taste and turns to golden yellow on ripening. Bunch weight varies from 15- 20 Kg and number of hands per bunch varies from 12-14 with 10-12 fingers per hand. The keeping quality of the fruits is less and the skin tends to turn black after 3 days of ripening. The average weight of fruit ranges from 80-100 g. This cultivar is maintained with traditional farmers’ of the Island and the reduction in yield is observed when grown as a ratoon crop continuously. It is of utmost importance to conserve this local variety and its cultivation is to be encouraged.

Benefit:This cultivar is highly suitable to grow as intercrop in plantation based cropping system and is also highly suitable for high density planting.

Source :Contact person with Name, Designation e-mail and phone no: Dr. K. Abirami, Senior Scientist, Email: K.Abirami@icar.gov.in, Phone: 9933278631