Thanjavur banana farmers hit by price drop and market challenges

Banana farmers in Thanjavur, a district in India mostly known for growing paddy, are struggling with low demand and prices due to heavy rains and overlapping harvests in nearby areas. The district has about 4,450 hectares of land used for growing bananas, mainly the 'poovan' variety, which is valued for both its fruit and leaves. However, market conditions have worsened, with traders now offering as little as $0.07 per kilogram, much lower than the prices in previous years.

Farmers say the buying rates have dropped sharply, from $0.36 per kilogram during last month's festival season to just $0.07-$0.08 per kilogram now. This drop in demand isn’t limited to the local market, as buyers from states like Maharashtra, Kerala, and Karnataka, who were regular customers in the past, are no longer purchasing. Harvesting in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh at the same time has added to the problem.

Last year, even during the rainy season, prices were at least $0.18 per kilogram. This year, they are much lower, putting significant financial pressure on farmers. P. Sukumaran, a local farmer, pointed out that the current prices are too low to cover the high costs of growing bananas, which take 10 to 12 months to cultivate.

Commission agent P. Tirunavukkarasu explained that heavy rains in Tamil Nadu and nearby states have disrupted the transportation of bananas and further reduced demand. To address the crisis, Sukumaran has urged the government to step in by adding bananas to school breakfast programs and setting up small cold storage units to help farmers.

The situation highlights the urgent need for better solutions to stabilize banana prices and protect the livelihoods of farmers in the region.

source: newindianexpress.com

photo: wikifarmer.com