THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From banana stem soda to marinade made from banana root... To get a real taste of bananas, visit the exhibition stall of Vellayani Agricultural College at 'VAIGA 2023' organized by the Department of Agriculture in Putharikandam Maithanam. At the value-added banana products stall, many people are amazed by the variety of food items. Children love banana figs, which are cut and dried from ripe bananas. Both sweetened and unsweetened banana juice appeal to adults. There are fruit bars and banana jelly made from banana tree juice and sugar and butter. The stall also has cakes, cupcakes, and spicy soda as value-added banana products. Around 40 value-added products are set up in the agriculture college stall for bananas alone. The stall also has various varieties of bananas including Sakkai, Sikusani, Bhim kol, and Chinese Cavendish.

Main banana dishes

• Banana alcohol
• Banana Crush
• Honey drink
• Banana syrup
• Banana stem pickle
• Cookies
• Banana light wine
• Sarkaravaratti
• Banana Masala
• Banana spicy sauce
• Banana Halva

12 stalls

Vellayani Agriculture College has 12 stalls as part of Vaiga. Apart from bananas, there are stalls selling value-added products from coconuts, honey, vegetables, and flowers. Not all products can be purchased. The objective is to make the public aware that various experiments are being conducted in the College of Agriculture and that such value-added products can be produced.

'The stall has various value-added products like banana stems, flowers, roots, fruit and fiber. The college will further expand research on value-added products.'

Dr. Simi,

Head, Department of Fruit Science,

College of Agriculture