Mysuru: A 2-day Banana Festival, organised by Sahaja Samrudha, in collaboration with Department of Horticulture, Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation Limited (KAPPEC), ICAR-JSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Suttur, began at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry yesterday.  Venkataramana Reddy J. Patil, Managing Director, KAPPEC, inaugurated the festival. Dr. Giridhar Parvatam, Director of CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru, launched ‘Banana Bharat’ app.  

More than 150 banana varieties are showcased at the festival which will be open till 8.30 pm today. Value-added banana products, banana fibre crafts and a variety of banana-based culinary preparations are also on display and for sale. 

K.N. Roopashree, Joint Director, Department of Horticulture, Mysuru; Ravishankar, Banana Conservationist Ponnampet, Kodagu; Dr. B.N. Gnanesh, Head of ICAR-JSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Suttur, Ashok M. Bhosale, Manager, Kukkarahalli Kisan Mall and Dr. Umesh H. Hebbar, Senior Scientist, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru, were present during the inaugural.