Maharashta emerges as top exporter of bananas

Maharashtra’s exports have been valued at Rs 455.50 crore, whereas Kerala’s exports of the commodity are valued at Rs 103.87 crore.

Maharashtra has change into the nation’s largest exporter of bananas between April 2020 and February 2021, with exports crossing 1.34 lakh tonne. The nation’s banana exports have crossed 1.91 lakh tonne in the identical interval.
Within the South, Kerala has exported 18,868.14 tonne, adopted by Tamil Nadu at 6,280.52 tonne. Uttar Pradesh has exported 20,924.93 tonne, whereas West Bengal has exported 3,532.77 tonne.

Maharashtra’s exports have been valued at Rs 455.50 crore, whereas Kerala’s exports of the commodity are valued at Rs 103.87 crore. The overall worth of banana exports for this era is round Rs 615.8 crore.

Govind Hande, technical advisor, Maharashtra Agriculture Division, identified that though Maharashtra cultivates banana on 90,000 hectare as in comparison with 8 lakh hectare throughout the nation and the range grown by the state is in style in export markets. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are different main banana growers.

This season, there’s demand for bananas grown in Parbhani and Nanded districts. Jalgaon, Kolhapur and Solapur are main banana-growing areas in Maharashtra however 20-30% of the crop right here has been broken as a consequence of rains, he mentioned.
Up to now, round 1,600 containers (every container has 20 tonne capability) has been shipped out of Jalgaon area. Indian bananas are in nice demand in Iran, Iraq, Muscat and Bahrain and likewise Europe to some extent.
Exporters obtained a most of `1,700 per quintal and minimal of `1,200 per quintal this season. Round 580 containers have been exported from Sahada taluka in Nandurbar district. In 2019, round 700 containers have been exported from Jalgaon along with some 200 tonne from Nanded district to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Dubai and Oman.

Hande mentioned that the crop has been now been included in ‘traceability’ system arrange by the Centre for the export of grapes, pomegranates, mangoes, greens and citrus fruits.

Agricultural and Processed Meals Merchandise Export Growth Authority (Apeda) has developed a software program known as ‘Banana Web’ and the implementation of the system will start from July 1. Maharashtra accounts for almost 70% many of the nation’s banana exports and the institution of Banana Web is anticipated to present it a lift.
Hande identified that the nation’s banana exports have grown from 35,000 tonne 4 years in the past to 1.91 lakh tonne in 2020-21. Of this, Maharashtra’s share is round 70%. Contemplating this, Maharashtra Agriculture Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar and director of horticulture Kailash Mote approached Apeda to launch Banana Web. A farmer from Solapur mentioned bananas are in nice demand in Europe and the traceability system will assist increase exports. India is the world’s largest producer of bananas, however nonetheless stays a minor exporter.