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Farmers will be able to get better rates for the Nendran banana, say farm varsity experts.
This banana is grown mostly in Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruchi and Kanyakumari districts. It is used mainly in chips preparation.
It is planted during April-May and October-November to coincide with Onam festival.
The crop requires high density planting and can withstand wind damage, say experts.
Stating that there has been a sizeable increase in banana (including nendran variety) acreage and production over the past five years, the expert at the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (Demic) at TNAU said that the State recorded the highest production share with 26.47 per cent in 2011, followed by Maharashtra (13.5 per cent) and Gujarat (13.3 per cent).
The area under banana increased from 5.69 lakh hectares in 2005-06 to 8.16 lakh hectares in 2011-12 (all India).
The area under nendran variety alone is estimated at 18-20 per cent of this.
In Tamil Nadu, banana is raised in around 1.25 lakh hectares.
The peak arrival season of the nendran fruit is Jan- Feb.
The present market price is Rs 32/kg. ‘The price tends to vary with quality,’ the expert added.
After analysing the price trend in the farmers shandy here, Demic experts perceive the rates to hit a high of Rs 34 and Rs 37 in September, before touching Rs 33-35 in October.
>revathy.lakshminarasimhan@thehindu.co.in
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