Gunasekaran Marappan

Problems and Prospects of Banana farmers in Tamilnadu Gunasekaran Marappan

Agro Climatic suitability coupled with an abundance of natural endowments equips India with a unique comparative edge in the cultivation of a variety of horticultural crops. In realization of potential for providing nutritional security, employment generating capacity and foreign exchange earnings, horticultural crops have been accorded the top priority in the last two five year plans. India is one of the world's largest producers of farm commodities, and the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables. Agriculture accounts for about 14.7 percent of the country's total export earnings. It also has one of the world's largest agricultural research systems and relatively well-developed base for research and development and extension. In the past four decades, India has become self-sufficient in food grains and now has a surplus. Food grain production increased from 89.4 million tons in 1964-1965 to 211.3 million tons in 2001-2002 with dissemination and adoption of green revolution technology.