Key Highlights
- With farmers now receiving a one-time subsidy of ₹60,000 for cultivating Rasabale, the crop has been taken up in about 80 acres in Nanjangud.
- Though some farmers outside the region also grow the variety, it cannot be marketed as Nanjangud Rasabale owing to geographical indication (GI) restrictions.
- A key reason, according to scientists, for the decline in Rasabale cultivation in earlier years was the outbreak of Panama wilt disease, which discouraged farmers from continuing with the crop.
- To restore confidence, scientists and horticulture officials are working in mission mode to introduce disease-control measures and provide healthy planting material.
- The Department of Horticulture, the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS), Bagalkot, and the JSS Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Suttur, with support from the National Centre for Banana, Tiruchi, have joined hands to protect and revive this heritage crop.
