Banana Prices Fall in Chitwan as Peak Harvest Boosts Supply and Floods Disrupt Key Markets

CHITWAN, Sept 16 — Banana prices have declined in Chitwan as production has increased during the peak harvesting season and floods along the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli corridor have disrupted supplies to Kathmandu and other major markets.

Farmers say banana prices have fallen compared to a month ago. Indra Subedi, a farmer from Khairahani, said he sold 20,000 bananas of the Chini Champa variety on Monday at Rs 5 per banana.

Despite the decline, Subedi said farmers are still making a profit. According to him, farmers can remain profitable even if the bananas are sold for Rs 3 each.

Chini Champa bananas were previously selling for as much as Rs 9 per banana. Subedi said a bunch of around 200 bananas, which had previously fetched Rs 1,000, is now selling for about Rs 600.

Shankar Subedi, a banana farmer from Ratnanagar Municipality-12, said the market has slowed compared to the recent past. The Malbhog variety has already gone out of season, while farmers are currently selling G9 bananas.

"The market is slower than before. Malbhog is out of stock, and G9 is now available. The market is slow," he said. He added that the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods may also have affected prices.

"Production is higher during this season. However, the floods may also have contributed to the decline in prices. Increased supply during the peak production period may have affected the market," he said.

Shankar Subedi has cultivated bananas on 64 bighas of land. He plans to expand cultivation of the G9 variety, which can produce bananas throughout the year. He previously grew only Malbhog bananas but has planted G9 on three bighas this year with the aim of contributing to Nepal's self-sufficiency in banana production.

Farmers in Chitwan currently sell Malbhog bananas for Rs 6-7 per banana and G9 bananas for Rs 4-5. They said prices had reached as high as Rs 11 for Malbhog and Rs 8 for G9 in recent months.

Bishnu Hari Pant, president of the Nepal Banana Producers' Federation, said the average price has now fallen to around Rs 4 per banana. He stressed the need for better market management based on production cycles.

Although prices have declined, Pant said farmers appear satisfied with current rates. He noted that consumers had faced difficulties when prices were higher and said farmers have been planning production to maintain supplies through February, March and April.

"Although banana production has faced some difficulties, the National Agriculture Modernization Program has made things easier for farmers. We are moving toward self-sufficiency in bananas, and prices will also come down," Pant said.

Banana cultivation has expanded significantly across Nepal in recent years. According to Pant, bananas are currently being cultivated on around 15,000 hectares nationwide, up from approximately 12,000 hectares last year. Production has also increased to around 900,000 metric tonnes.

Farmers do not expect banana prices to rise significantly through the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals. Pant said prices could increase around February, while market conditions could change again in May-June.

In Chitwan, banana farming covers around 1,850 hectares within the designated banana super zone.