Banana price soars.

​Ongole: With the Krishna Pushkaralu fast approaching (from August 12), there is a steady increase in the price of bananas.

It has already touched Rs 70- 80 a dozen, from Rs 15-20 and Rs 30-35, hitting the common man hard. As a result, many consumers are hesitating to purchase the fruit, which is offered on all auspicious occasions and at all functions.

• Govt taking over thousands of acres farmers’ lands for new State capital resulting in sharp fall in production
• People hesitating to purchase
• Blame govt for price hike
• Traders importing banana from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & Karnataka at high cost to meet the shortfall

People are blaming the government for the price rise.

Traders in Chirala of Prakasam district mainly secure their banana stocks from the Lanka villages in Guntur and Krishna districts, as farmers there raise the crop, thanks to abundant availability of water.

With the government taking over thousands of acres of farmers’ lands for the construction of the new State capital, the production of banana is going to fall steeply.

Another reason for the steep decline in crop area is deficit rainfall because of drought, resulting in chopping of trees by farmers.

Consequently, there is a sudden price hike of the fruit. The price of a bunch (gela) of banana in the past fluctuated between Rs 150 and 250 and Rs 15-20 a dozen.

Now, a dozen costs Rs 70-80, making the fruit beyond the reach of the people.

Traders Ganesh, Bhavanarayana and Rahmatullah told The Hans India that they were importing banana from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka to meet the shortfall.

They said that for the purchase of every 10 tonnes of the fruit, they should pay Rs 50,000.

As a result, they were forced to sell at higher price and quote the price ranging between Rs 70 and Rs 80 a dozen, they said.

The consumers are taken aback by the high price and are unable to purchase the fruit. The price is surely to go up further by the time the Krishna Pushkaralu, according to traders.

Devotees are sure to spend heavy amounts for purchasing the fruit to be offered to the deity during the Pushkaralu.

A consumer Gunturu Madhava Rao said that the Central and the State governments should come to the rescue of banana farmers in the Lanka villages by extending incentives to increase the output.