KOCHI: This Onam season is all set to create a record of sorts when it comes to the price of banana. Pushed up by short supply and increasing demand the price of banana stands at Rs 68 per kg now. The traders expect the price to cross the Rs 70/kg mark.
Compared with the Onam season last year, the price of banana has increased by around Rs 20/kg. In line with the price rise, customers have to shell out more on items like banana chips and ‘sharkara varatti’ this time. Around eight trucks carrying a load of 400 to 600 kg is being unloaded at Ernakulam market during Onam days to quench the demand, it is learnt.
“The price of banana is likely to go up to a maximum of Rs 75/kg from the current levels. The unavailability in the domestic market and short supply are the major reasons behind this price increase. Of the total demand only 25 per cent is met by domestic production.
The domestically available banana comes from Perumbavoor, Malayattoor region. The rest of the demand is met by Mettupalayam and Trichy,” said Navab, a banana merchant at Ernakulam market.
Market sources said that the price difference between ripe banana and raw banana is only Rs 2 to 3/kg with the domestic variety being more costlier.
As the price of banana increases considerably, the price of traditional Onam items such as banana chips and ‘sharkara varatti’ has also moved north by Rs 30 to Rs 50/kg compared to last year.
According to Ashraf, another vegetable merchant in Ernakulam, the price hike is evident in all the vegetable and fruit items and banana is no exception.
“The demand in Kerala is met by import from Tamil Nadu. The farmers and traders there await Onam season to reap a rich harvest. The price of banana has been increasing for the past few years. This time, the only difference is that the prices have skyrocketed and is set to break all the past records.
Going by the present trend, as three days left before Onam, the price of banana and its byproducts is likely to go up,” he said.
But the farmers draw a sorry picture. They said they were hardy getting the benefits of the spurt in prices. “The farmers have to invest at least Rs 300 per banana. Now the banana is priced at Rs 68 per kg. But we are getting around Rs 50/kg,” said K J Paul, a farmer in Malayattoor.