The prices of nendran variety of banana has shot up in Tiruchi market, bringing relief to farmers, who were hit by Gaja cyclone.
Though most of the banana growers in Thiruvalarcholai, Manikandam, Andhanallur, Musiri, Panayapuram, Thottiyam and Mannachanallur send nendran bunches to markets in Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Palakkad in Kerala, there are farmers who market their produce in banana markets at Nochiyam on Tiruchi-Salem highway and the Vazhakkai mandi in Tiruchi.
In Tiruchi district, 7,000 hectares of land was brought under the banana cultivation during the current season (2018-19). Of it, nendran banana has been raised on 2,500 hectares. Most of the landholdings in Andhanallur, Kuzhumani, Pettavaithalai, Manikandam, Mutharasanallur, Jeeyapuram, Thiruvalarcholai and Panayapuram were brought under nendran cultivation. But the Gaja cyclone is said to have destroyed nearly one-third of nendran banana planatation in the district. The impact was heavy in Andhanallur and Manikandam blocks.
The harvest of nendran banana, which began in the second week of February, has gained momentum. Depending on the price offered by traders in Tiruchi and Kerala, farmers dispatch nendran loads for marketing. Several traders from Kerala have come to Tiruchi for spot procurement.
On Saturday, a top quality bunch of nendran banana (10 kg) was procured for ₹55 at theVazhakkai mandi in Tiruchi. The rate is said to be remunerative for farmers. It was ₹35 in the first week of February. It is ₹25 more than the average price.
“The farmers, who have raised nendran banana without obtaining advance from Kerala traders, alone prefer to sell the produce in Tiruchi. Well-grown bunches fetch ₹550 to ₹600 in auction. It is a good price for farmers,” says N. Sekar, a banana merchant at Vazhakkai mandi in Tiruchi.
Though the price is good, farmers feel that it is not remunerative, taken in context with damage caused by Cyclone Gaja. “Many farmers suffered extensive damage due to the impact of Cyclone Gaja. This led to huge demand and higher prices. I feel the current prices are inadequate, given the extent of damage that we have suffered in the cyclone,” said M. Babu, farmer of Kondayampettai in Thiruvanaikoil.