Enhancing Banana Yield and Profitability through Bunch Skirting

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp.) is a vital horticultural crop, yet achieving premium market quality remains a challenge due to biotic and abiotic stresses during bunch development. This study evaluates the multi-dimensional impact of bunch skirting technology through Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) conducted over three consecutive years (2022-2023 to 2024-25) across various villages. The primary objective was to assess the technology against traditional farmer practices (control) by measuring agronomic improvements, economic viability, and the efficacy of FLDs as an extension methodology for accelerating technology adoption. Data from 39 participating farmers (13 per year) were analyzed. Agronomic results indicated a consistent and statistically significant improvement in fruit girth and overall yield. In 2022-23, the average yield per hectare increased by 13.16%, with similar sustained growth in subsequent years. Economically, despite an additional expenditure of Rs. 54,450/ha for skirting bags, the intervention yielded a substantially higher average Benefit-Cost (B:C) ratio compared to the control, culminating in a B:C ratio of 2.78 in 2024-25. The Incremental Cost-Benefit Ratio (ICBR) proved the investment highly lucrative. Furthermore, the extension analysis revealed that the technology significantly reduced yield variability among farmers, mitigating perceived financial risks. The sustained positive outcomes across diverse geographical micro-climates within the study area underscore skirting as a highly profitable intervention and validate the participatory FLD model for bridging the lab-to-land gap in agricultural technology.