India: Banana farmers in Kerala battle low retail prices

Kottayam: While farmers from Punjab and Haryana are laying siege to national capital New Delhi demanding continuity of minimum support prices (MSP) for their produce, many other farmers across India who do not have the MSP safety net are in dire straits. Farmers who cultivate farm produce that are covered by MSP can at least be assured of a support price but that is not the case for others who have to depend on open markets to sell their produce. Fruit growers in Kerala, particularly banana farmers, have fallen into hard times with retail prices at a low of Rs 25 (Dhs1.25) per kg. Given the large margins of intermediaries in fruit and vegetable markets, a retail price of Rs 25 kg can mean that the farmer would be getting roughly Rs 15 per kg of bananas. It has been a series of setbacks for banana farmers in the state this year with the COVID-19 lockdown affecting sales in the first half of the year, followed by depressed demand in later months. The biggest blow came in November ...