Prices Up, Traders From North Pick Banana From Rayalaseema
The prices had fallen in recent days to as low as Rs 8 per kg because of poor demand in the northern state markets, where it previously fetched good prices. Faced with adversity, many farmers left the orchards idle.
ANANTAPUR: Banana prices are gradually increasing after traders from the North came in and started purchasing the produce from Rayalaseema region.
The prices had fallen in recent days to as low as Rs 8 per kg because of poor demand in the northern state markets, where it previously fetched good prices. Faced with adversity, many farmers left the orchards idle.
Sources said bananas are now being sold in the Pulivendula market at a maximum price of Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000 per tonne. Poor-quality bananas are fetching around Rs 10,000 per tonne.
Banana cultivation increased significantly this year in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The yields were also high due to favourable climatic conditions. Under these circumstances, demand for Rayalaseema bananas had declined, adversely impacting the prices. A month ago, banana price in Rayalaseema was in the range of Rs 8 to 10 per kg and even low-quality bananas fetched as low as Rs 2.
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu focused on the vows of farmers as the prices crashed. Officials of the marketing department went to the northern states and held discussions with traders. This helped. Banana movement from Rayalaseema districts to northern markets has resumed in the past two days.
Banana is cultivated on more than 3 lakh acres, with an estimated total production of 87 lakh tonnes, of which a major portion is from the Rayalaseema region.
A substantial portion of the bananas produced in Andhra Pradesh is consumed within the state. The government has set a target of sending out some 2 lakh tonnes from the total output. Due to excess supply in north India, however, demand for AP bananas had reduced.
After the prices fell in November, purchases of around 70,000 tonnes of bananas have taken place. Marketing department officials estimate that banana prices would increase further in the coming days.
