Amaravati, February 24: Banana growers in Kadapa district are finally turning a profit as market prices reach Rs 25,000 per tonne. The surge comes after a sharp drop to Rs 2,000–3,000 per quintal in December, when many left bunches on plants or fed them to livestock due to unviable returns.
The recovery stems from rising demand during the wedding season and fresh export orders to cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and states including Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, plus some Arab countries.
Pulivendula bananas stand out for their unique taste, quality from slightly saline soil, modern techniques, and longer 12-14 day shelf life compared to 8-10 days for others. Cultivation spans 13,820 hectares in the Pulivendula area, with heavy focus in mandals like Lingala and Pulivendula.
Farmers invest around Rs 1.5 lakh per acre and harvest 15-20 tonnes, timing most picks for February-April peaks.
