Banana prices forecast to go up

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has forecast an upward swing in banana prices till October, being the festive season.
The Price Forecasting Scheme in TNAU has analysed the 15 years' monthly prices of cultivars of 'Poovan', 'Karpooravalli' and eight years' monthly prices of 'Nendran' banana varieties of Coimbatore, to help the growers get better returns.
The analysis and traders survey indicated that during August-October, the expected average farm gate price would be Rs.23-25 per kg for Poovan, Rs.27-29 per kg for Karpooravalli and Rs.36-38 per kg for Nendrany and advised the farmers to take note of the market advisory before harvesting their produce, a release said.

Area under banana in Tamil Nadu was around 1.13 lakh hectares with a production of 49 lakhs tonnes during 2015-16.
A mixed trend was witnessed in Tamil Nadu this season, as the Central districts achieved better yields because of good rainfall last year. But the production declined owing to heavy rain and winds during the last week of June in the Northern districts like Cuddalore and Villupuram, it said.
Uneven rainfall and water deficit in the Southern districts like Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli have also affected the market arrivals during the current season, it said.
The prices of banana would firm up during the season of festivities and marriages, in the coming months, it said.