This time round, celebrating Ganesh Chathurthi will be a costlier affair for you with the staple fruit during the Ganesha festival, bananas, becoming costlier.
The retail markets and Horticulture Producers’ Cooperative and Marketing Society (HOPCOMS) outlets are expecting a rise in rates of bananas from Rs40 to Rs50 per kg, and in some areas, to even Rs55 per kg in the coming days.
RV Gopi, president, City Market Vegetable and Fruit Merchants’ Association, said: “This time, we have a shortage of cultivation in Karnataka. Most of the farmers have started growing sugarcane more intensively. So, bananas have to be procured from Tamil Nadu. But over the last two days, the supply from that state has stopped, and we might see a 15-20% rise in rates for bananas in the wholesale market, too,” he said.
This could see a further rise in retail prices for bananas in the coming days.
The banana prices are already up by 15-20% in the retail market, and the retailers are making merry at the cost of the hapless consumers who are looking forward to celebrating the Ganesha festival which comes on September 11 (Saturday).
At present, the rate of the Yelakki banana in the wholesale market is Rs30 per kg and Robusta banana costs Rs15. This might increase by 10% over Thursday and Friday. The Robusta variety could reach Rs20 per kg while Yelakki could cross the Rs45 mark.
HOPCOMS director Babu Reddy, sought to play down the anxiety over the rise in banana prices. He said “As it is festival season, the prices of fruits as well as vegetables are bound to rise.”
Bananas are bought by the bunches to celebrate Ganesha festival and the fruit, apart from being placed asofferings during the pooja, also finds its way into various recipes as part of the post-pooja feasts.
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