Banana prices soar ahead of Onam; farmers expect rates to cross ₹100

Kothamangalam: With Onam approaching, banana prices are soaring, with rates nearly doubling in a week. Farmers expect the price to cross ₹100 by the time the festival arrives.

Chips manufacturers, who bought bananas from farmers at ₹35 a kg during the Onam season last year, are now paying ₹65-75. The sharp rise has been attributed to a decline in supplies from Tamil Nadu following excessive rain, summer heat and strong winds.

Climate-related disruptions have also affected cultivation in Kerala, with supplies from Idukki and Wayanad remaining low. The shortage of mature bananas has further pushed up prices.

Plantains and bananas, which were selling at ₹45-50 a kg a week ago, are now priced at ₹80-85. Wholesalers are buying directly from farmers at ₹65-70 a kg.

Most farmers had cultivated bananas specifically for the Onam market. However, they say climate change has severely affected cultivation. The collapse in prices last year also prompted many farmers to abandon banana cultivation.

Although there are plenty of bananas in many orchards this year, most are yet to mature. As supplies remain low across the region, chips manufacturers are buying up whatever produce reaches the market.

More banana cultivation in Keerampara

Native bananas take around nine months to harvest, while the Theni Nendran variety takes 11-12 months. The average cultivation cost is ₹200-250 per plant. A single bunch yields around 10-12 kg of bananas, while the native variety generally produces 9-10 kg.

Banana cultivation is most extensive in Keerampara panchayat in Kothamangalam taluk, Ernakulam district. Around one lakh banana trees have been cultivated across different parts of the panchayat this year.

Bananas are available in abundance in the area from August to February. Last year, some farmers sold up to 40-50 tonnes of bananas worth around ₹20 lakh. However, thousands of banana trees cultivated for the Onam season were destroyed by strong winds and waterlogging.

Reji Mathai of Pallimalil, Punnekad, had cultivated bananas on 10 acres of his own and leased land. Around 2,000 trees were destroyed by strong winds. The loss was partly offset by insurance.

Rijo George of Pelakudy has cultivated bananas on more than 10 acres of land.