Banana Rates Dip to Rs 8 per Kg in Pune; Farmers Unable to Recover Costs
Market Yard, 29th November 2025: Banana arrivals have surged in the city’s wholesale markets, but farmers are facing steep losses as prices have dropped far below expectations. Raw bananas are currently selling for just ₹8–9 per kg, while ripe bananas are fetching ₹11–12 per kg, leaving growers worried about recovering even basic costs.
Bananas are cultivated throughout the year, and demand typically remains steady. In recent years, plantation areas have expanded significantly in Indapur taluka of Pune district and across Solapur district, particularly along the banks of the Ujani Dam. Farmers from these regions supply bananas to major markets in Pune and Mumbai.
The banana season usually begins in June and continues till February. Pune’s Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard receives around 25 truckloads of bananas daily. Demand is generally high during the Shravan month, Ganesh festival and Navratri. However, after Diwali, sales have dropped sharply, said banana trader Vitthal Vaikar.
Despite heavy arrivals, the current rates in the wholesale market have not kept pace with costs. “Farmers are not even able to recover production and transportation expenses, resulting in serious financial distress,” Vaikar added.
Prices May Rise Only After Winter
“Right now, demand has fallen across wholesale markets in Pune, Mumbai and other parts of the state. This drop is typical during winter. Prices may improve once the cold season ends, but for at least the next two months farmers are unlikely to get the rates they expect,” said Vaikar and fellow trader Balasaheb Kakade.
The area under banana cultivation in Pune district has increased this year, adding to market supply. While traders are purchasing bananas directly from farms, low demand means fruits are ripening on the plants themselves. Many farmers are selling their produce at whatever rate they receive at the farm gate.
“At several places, bananas are being sold as low as ₹4–5 per kg at the field itself, which doesn’t even cover the cost of production,” said Abhijit Wagh, a farmer from Pimpalvandi village in Junnar taluka.
Farmers say unless prices recover soon, they may face severe financial setbacks, despite strong demand for bananas during most of the year.
