Wholesalers said a 100kg crate of good quality bananas costs between Rs 2,600 and Rs 3,000 in the mandi now. A kilogram of banana generally contains 7-8 pieces. If converted into the rate per dozen, the wholesale rate in the mandis has touched Rs 45-50.
In retail markets and online shopping portals, where the fruit is sold by weight, bananas are priced at Rs 70-80 per kilo. In smaller shops and carts, it’s available for over Rs 100 per dozen.
Traders blamed heavy rain and flood-like situation in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to be behind the price rise.
“Heavy rain has destroyed crops in several areas. Also, banana farmers prefer exporting good quality produce to Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, which fetch them much better prices. What we get here is either low grade quality, which perishes very early, or low supply of good quality fruit,” said Madan Gupta, a wholesaler at Azadpur APMC.
A truck carrying 16 tonnes of bananas didn’t cost more than Rs 2.5 lakh till a few days ago, but now it is priced at about Rs 4.5 lakh. Traders added that transportation costs had increased due to the rise in diesel prices. To ripen the fruit, the produce is kept in air-conditioned godowns, which has also led to the prices shooting north.
Srikrishna Lal, a wholesaler at Azadpur, said consumption of this modest fruit increases especially in July when pilgrims bring holy water from the Ganga to offer at Shiva temples near their homes. “Since banana gives a lot of energy and it is very easy to consume without having to cut and wash it, pilgrims prefer to eat it during their 7-10 days walk. Amid very high demand, retailers jack up the retail prices,” he added.
Traders claimed the situation would continue for a few more weeks till the monsoon was at its peak. “Once rain starts reducing, a fresh crop will bring the prices down,” said Gupta.
