Karnataka Government is all set to establish four integrated horticulture biotechnology centres under a Central scheme at a cost of Rs 26.40 crore.

The centres, on lines of the one in Hulimavu near here, will come up in Bidar, Koppal, Shimoga and Mysore districts, Director of Horticulture N Jayaram told PTI.

Each biotechnology centre will comprise a plant tissue culture laboratory that can generate virus-free shoot tip culture and produce uniform genuine quality planting material to get year round availability of planting material and pest and disease free plants.

This would benefit growers and farmers and nursery owners and improve rural employment.

The crops which will be propagated through tissue culture laboratory include banana, anthurium, orchids, rare and endangered medicinal and aromatic plants and other high value traditional horticulture crops. Among these banana is the most important fruit crop which is in good demand from state farmers, he said.

The national demand for tissue culture banana plants rose to 66 million by 2007-08 from 22 million in 2003-04, a 25 per cent growth.

The centres will be set up under the Centrally sponsored Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.