Bananas farmers suffer huge losses in Gujarat, keep MRP but not MSP

Gandhinagar, 25 May 2021

Banana farmers of Gujarat have suffered extensive losses in the coastal areas. Coastal South Gujarat and West Gujarat have suffered 70 to 90 per cent damage in the storm area. The maximum damage has been done in 57518 hectare bananas in 9 districts including Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Narmada, Bharuch, Vadodara, Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Bhavnagar. Farmers estimate an area of ​​30,000 hectares has been damaged. 20 million tonnes of bananas may suffer damage. It can be said that 6 to 7 lakh trees and leaves were damaged based on the experience of the farmers. It will now take 14 months for the banana tree to be ready.

Rs 2,000 crore loss

The total loss is estimated at Rs 2,000 crore. Farmers in South Gujarat believe that there is a loss of 500-700 crore rupees. Farmers believe that Saurashtra and Central Gujarat have incurred a loss of Rs 1300–1400 crore.

1250 compensation only

The farmer who incurred more than 33 percent loss will get compensation of Rs.1250 an acres. Farmers are getting only four rupees a kilo.

Give MRP

Farmers, members of the MSP committee, have demanded from the government that the MSP committee should fix MRP – not the minimum support price in horticulture. Because most of the investment is in horticultural crops. Long-term investments are made. Therefore MRP should be there, not MSP.

Bananas in 70 thousand hectares

Farmers in Gujarat are saying that there has been an average loss of 40 per cent of the total production of bananas. According to him, there were banana orchards in a total of 70,000 hectares. Which produces 4.6 million tonnes of bananas annually.

1130 banana trees per hectare

1220 to 1240 banana stems are planted at 6 x 6 feet per hectare. The cost of making a loom on a trunk is Rs. In 7 districts including Bharuch, 33 per cent to 90 per cent losses have been incurred. On an average, there are 400–500 trees per hectare.

Leaf breakage will reduce production

Banana trees fall. If the tree is saved by the wind, its leaves are broken. Banana leaves are large. Which produces banana. Leaves burst due to strong wind. That’s why banana trees cannot cook. Hence the production will be less in the long run. Banana quality will not come. Thus there is a long term loss.

Cost 60 thousand per hectare

Bananas are harvested in 14 months. The farmers of Bharuch ripen bananas in 10 months. They ripen bananas 3 times in 26 months. It costs 12 thousand to prepare an acre of land. 2400 meters per acre of drip pipe is required. A pipe costs Rs 12 per meter. The cost of banana cultivation is Rs 60,000 per hectare.

Banana farm of Bharuch

Dhiren Desai, a farmer from Bharuch, says he has been growing bananas for 40 years and has never seen such a loss. They believe that the farmers of Bharuch have suffered between 33 and 90 per cent. If there are open bananas then 400-500 stems have fallen. There is a loss of 33 to 90 percent.

The average production is 66.54 tonnes per hectare. The highest banana crop in Bharuch is 73 tonnes per hectare.

Loss of 40 lakh rupees to farmer

A farmer from Indore village of Jagadhia bought a yellow banana tissue plant for 40 rupees and planted 4 acres and it has fallen into 4 acres. This has happened to only one farmer of 35 to 40 lakhs.

Bharuch

In Gujarat, most bananas are grown in Bharuch. Where there are 9 lakh tons of bananas in 12 thousand hectares. Dhiren Desai, a farmer from Bharuch, says that most bananas are grown along the banks of the Narmada River. 4 per kg. The price was 210 10 days ago. Ankleshwar, coastal Bharuch and river banks have been badly damaged. Bardoli has suffered heavy losses. Bananas have been damaged from Vapi, Valsad to Anand.

Low loss in muscle

Ketan Patel, a banana grower from Boria village in Anand, says Kheda and Anand have lost 5 to 10 per cent. Banana prices remained low for two days. Farmers get Rs 200 per 20 kg. Currently, you get 10 rupees per kg.

Most bananas are grown along the river

There are 3183 hectares of bananas in Navsari-Madhumati and 3 other rivers.

Tapi River – Nizar, Tapi River originates from Maharashtra to Surat. Gala, Curzon, Bodhan, Bhairav, Kamaraj are the main areas of banana. Bananas are grown on 18 thousand hectares.

Bardoli – Aana and there are large plantations in the hills. There is 1 thousand hectares.

Narmada- Bananas are grown on 21 thousand hectares of Narmada River from Rajpipla to Bharuch.

Mahisagar – Khanpur, Sarsar, Boria, Petlad, Uncleav, Asodar are the areas of banana. Bananas are grown on 15 thousand hectares.

Bhavnagar – Mahuva has suffered heavy losses. There are 1750 hectares of bananas.

Bhavnagar 1753, Junagadh 550, Somnath 700, Amreli grow bananas in 230 hectares. (Translated from Gujarati)