Banana leaves for Onasadya: Rs 4 crores flow to Tamil Nadu for 10-day festival

Karukachal: During Onam, banana leaves play a crucial role in the festive Sadya meals. This year, Kerala has seen a massive flow of banana leaves, with the trade amounting to around Rs 6 crore. Out of this, roughly Rs 2 crore worth of business is for Thiruvonam day. However, most of the profits, up to Rs 4 crore, are going to Tamil Nadu, where the leaves are primarily sourced from.

Local middlemen and traders in Kerala, who facilitate the transport of these leaves from Tamil Nadu, only receive minor benefits with around Rs 2 crore. Despite efforts by Kerala farmers to grow their own banana leaves, the state remains dependent on Tamil Nadu to meet the demand.

Current leaf supply and pricing

The catering industry in Kerala estimates that about three lakh banana leaves are needed for the Uthradam and Thiruvonam days. Each bundle typically contains 250-300 leaves, with prices ranging up to Rs 1200 per bundle (Rs 4 per leaf). On the peak days of Uthradam and Thiruvonam, the price can rise to Rs 2000 per bundle.

Banana leaves are mainly sourced from Tamil Nadu regions such as Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, and Puliyampetty, where bundles cost around Rs 1000. Farmers here receive up to Rs 3 per leaf. In contrast, locally sourced leaves in Kerala are sold for around Rs 7 each through online platforms, which collaborates with family farming cooperatives. Additionally, Kerala's Onam leaves are also exported to Gulf countries, with recent shipments from Kochi totaling four tons.

Potential for local farmers

The cost of a ‘njalippoovan’ banana sapling ranges between Rs 25 and Rs 80. A well-maintained banana bunch (‘vazhakkula’) can be sold for an average of Rs 500. Although the costs for farmers are high, growing bananas for leaves can be profitable. One acre of land, planted with bananas, can produce leaves that are ready for harvest in a month. Two leaves can be harvested from each banana plant per week. As the plants mature, both the number of leaves and potential income increase.

M. C. Babu, a farmer from Pampadi Mulayakkunnu, shares that he earns over Rs 1000 from each banana plant. He cultivates more than a thousand banana plants on a two-acre leased plot.