It would not be wrong to say that it is a multi-beneficial shrub.
A very well-known tree of the Indian subcontinent is the banana tree. Banana trees are often seen all around us, especially in rural areas and in Mafsal. Banana trees grow naturally and are also cultivated. However, due to massive deforestation and urbanisation, the number of naturally growing banana trees has greatly reduced. As a result, the banana plant has become almost entirely an agricultural plant.
Banana tree is a tree, every part of which from the root to the root is useful to us and people still use different parts of the banana tree regularly for daily needs. We will look at these utilities one by one.
Bananas are an everyday food and a very well known fruit. There are very few people who do not eat bananas. And not just eaten straight as a fruit, bananas are used in a variety of recipes from breakfast to dinner. Raw plantain is used as a vegetable. Bananas are a very high quality fruit. It contains protein, carbohydrates, fibre, iron and other minerals which are essential for the good health of the human body in various ways. Banana removes weakness, increases the level of haemoglobin in the blood, improves digestion, removes the problem of constipation. On the other hand, raw plantains are effective against diarrhoea, constipation etc.
Banana flower is called mocha. Mocha is not actually considered a flower, but a vegetable. And mocha is highly digestible and healthy. This vegetable is very effective in increasing the level of haemoglobin in the blood, controlling blood pressure, and increasing the amount of antioxidants in our body. Mocha is especially beneficial for anaemic patients. The practice of eating Mocha is mainly seen in West Bengal and Bangladesh. where various dishes are made with mocha.
Not only the flowers and fruits of the banana tree, but also its stem is used as food. The trunk of the banana tree is spongy and succulent and its structure is multi-layered. After 3-4 outer layers, the inner white part is used as food. Its use can be observed mainly in Eastern India. This inside stem is called Thor. Like mocha, Thor is also very useful and highly nutritious. Depending on the region, different recipes of dishes are prepared with thor.
Before the invention of paper, banana leaves were used for writing, but that practice is no longer seen in rural areas. On the other hand, banana leaves have been used as dishes since ages and are still used. However, since the introduction of paper, plastic and thermocouple dishes in the market, their use has decreased a lot. But now, many environmentalists are talking about using banana leaves instead of plastic or thermocouple dishes to reduce pollution.
The trunk of the banana tree is spongy so it floats in water. And for this reason, many banana trees are still tied together in villages and used as rafts.
