When the grand festival is approaching, prices of banana have increased. Along with nenthran, the prices of njalipoovan and robusta varieties also showed an upward trend. Nenthran is in good demand for making banana chips during the festival season.
Nethran prices at the Swayasraya Karshaka Vipanies (SKVs) under the Vegetables and Fruits Promotion Council, Keralam (VFPCK), was ?65 a kg. While the prices of njalipoovan reached ?70, the palayankodan and robusta fetched ?30 and ?25 respectively. There was also a simultaneous rise in the prices of banana in the open markets.
The present rise in the prices is attributed to the poor availability and high demand during the festival season.
According to sources in the SKVs, the prices may further rise as there was a drop in the production. The arrival of nenthran from Tamil Nadu has considerably fallen due to the drought situation there. Nenthran and robusta are mainly cultivated in Tamil Nadu and high production there was said to be the reason for low prices in the SKVs in the past. The banana from the district mainly reach the markets in Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur and Alappuzha.
In all other market sales, banana is the main item for auction. The farmers say that the unfavourable climatic conditions and poor prices for over two years resulted in a drop in the production level.
Post Your Comments