Amaravati, March 17, 2026: Banana farmers in Andhra Pradesh are reeling from export disruptions caused by the conflict in West Asia, particularly tensions involving Iran and shipping route issues in the region.
Key banana-growing districts like Anantapur, Kadapa, Nandyal, Guntur, and East Godavari report stalled shipments to Gulf and West Asian countries, flooding local markets with surplus fruit.
Prices have crashed dramatically from ₹22,000-₹25,000 per tonne recently to as low as ₹5,000 per tonne leaving ripe bananas to rot in fields.
Farmer associations highlight severe financial distress and have appealed to the state government for urgent support, including procurement at a minimum support price of ₹15,000 per tonne via agencies like MARKFED for distribution to schools, hostels, and hospitals, or direct compensation of ₹1 lakh per acre.
