Pune: The changing trend of distributing packaged foods during religious festivals like Navratri has taken a toll on banana trade in Pune's Market Yard. Traditionally, bananas were an essential part of the offerings and were distributed widely during the festival.
However, over the last few years, the growing popularity of distributing packaged foods such as chikki and rajgira has led to a noticeable decline in the demand for bananas.
With the Navratri festival beginning on Thursday (Oct 3), banana traders recall how, just a decade ago, the supply would surge a week before the festival. But this year, the supply is noticeably lower.
Currently, Market Yard is receiving only 10 to 15 pickups of bananas daily, with produce coming from regions like Junnar, Indapur, Bhigwan, and Solapur. Wholesale prices range from ₹12 to ₹16 per kilogram, while retail sales see prices ranging from ₹40 to ₹60 per dozen.
Several factors contribute to the current situation, including the region's weather. Excessive rainfall has affected the quality of this year’s banana crop. As a result, the quantity of high-quality bananas in the market has decreased significantly, while lower-quality produce is more prevalent.
Adding to the woes of local banana traders, top-grade bananas are being exported abroad. Vithal Vaikar, a prominent banana trader at Market Yard, explained that premium bananas are being purchased directly from farmers by companies and buyers, bypassing the market.
"With deregulation, buyers are heading straight to the farms to pick up quality produce. This means transportation costs are avoided, and bananas are sold directly at the farm. What’s left in the market are the lower-quality bananas," Vaikar said.
This combination of a drop in local demand and the diversion of premium produce for export has left the banana traders struggling, with little hope for an immediate recovery.
A fresh supply is expected in about a month or so, but until then, the market is likely to continue seeing lower-quality bananas with diminished demand.