Banana Festival Exhibition: A Range of Surprises in Store

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
When it comes to banana, what rushes to mind are the fruit, flower and the core of the plant that are used as food. But there is indeed much more to banana than what many people think.
Walk into the Exhibition organised at the Vellayani Temple Ground in Kalliyoor Grama Panchayat as part of the National Banana Festival 2018, and one would be amazed at the wide ranging varieties of the fruit and the products
that can be made from the banana plant.
Besides the most attractive  Kerala Nenthran, the exhibition has an array of different varieties of bananas from almost every part of India. From the Kappa variety to the G.9 Robusta, the banana festival has brought to Kalliyoor a wide range of the fruit in different sizes and shapes. Apart from the fruit varieties, the exhibition also has value added products made from the normally unused parts, such as the trunk and fibre, of banana. The exhibition also has on display the various income generating opportunities these products put forth.
Products such as banana wine ( in a range of flavours), banana pickle, chocolate, banana health drink, footwear, bags, carpets and mobile pouches made from banana fibre are also on display and for sale. The National Banana Festival is Jointly Organised by Cissa and Kalliyoor Grama Panchayat. The exhibition is open from 10 am to 8 pm lasts till February 21.