Bananas are a
great food for
all round health
benefits, for
the average
person, dieter
or even athletes
bananas may
provide greater
benefits than
most fruits. The
combination of
carbohydrates
and B vitamins
present in a
banana helps
provide an
energy boost
which makes them
great to eat 30
minutes before a
workout, or even
at breakfast to
help boost
energy at the
start of every
day.
They’re also handy to carry
thanks to their thick skin and
easy to eat without getting ti
all over your shirt. They’re
also a pretty silent snack.
Bananas will boost you into a
fantastic performance, so make
it part of your pre-concert
routine.
Banana has been a
favourite fruit in india
from time immemorial.
The remains of a wild
banana species, Musa
balbisiana (locally
known as 'ati kehel'),
have been found at
prehistoric cave sites.
Present-day banana
cultivars rarely produce
seeds because they have
little or no pollen and
exhibit female
sterility, making them
very difficult to breed.
Banana is one of the
most important major
fruit crops grown in
India. In respect of
area and production, it
ranks second only to
mango in this country.
The banana culture in
India is as old as
Indian civilization.
Origin And Distribution
The edible banana is believed
to have originated in the hot,
tropical regions of South-East
Asia. India is believed to be
one of the centres of origin
of banana.
Its cultivation is distributed
throughout the warmer
countries and is confined to
regions between 300N
and 300S of the
equator.
Banana is also grown, in many
other countries of the world
namely Bangladesh, the
Carribbean Islands, the Canary
Islands, Florida, Egypt,
Israel, Ghana, Congo, South
Africa, Fiji, Hawaii, Taiwan,
Indonesia, the Philippines,
South China, Queensland and
Sri Lanka.
The highest acreage of bananas
is in Africa, where bananas
reach their maximum importance
as starchy food. They are the
staple food of the Buganda in
Uganda, the Wahaya in Bukoba
and the Wachagga in Tanzania.
Uses
Of Banana
Bananas are put into
varied uses in India,
especially in South
India. Almost every part
of the plant is used
someway or other.
In
South India, though hundreds of
banana varieties are existing,
only eight to ten have attained
the status of commercial
importance.
The fruits are used for desert
purposes as well as culinary
purposes. The varieties like
Poovan, Rasthali, Robustra,
Dwarf Cavendish are grown for
table purpose.
The plantains and Monthan group
yield fruits which are high in
starch content and hence they
are used as staple food in some
of the African countries.
In
India, Nendran is grown mainly
for table purposes and for
making 'Chips'. The Monthan
fruits, both immature and mature
ones, are used for culinary
purposes as it mixes well with
other vegetables in delicious
'curry' preparations of South
Indian house holds.
In
South India, no festive
decoration are said to be
complete unless the entrance
gates are decorated with full
grown banana plants with
attractive bunches.
In
all auspicious occasions in the
life of a South Indian, banana
has got important place either
as a table fruit or as an
offering to God in temples.
The banana male buds are
harvested soon after the female
phase is over and are sold as a
vegetable in the markets.
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