Banana shortage hits market, prices soar to Rs 350 per dozen

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s banana market is facing an acute shortage, driven largely by traders’ boycott of illegally imported bananas from India, according to business leaders.

The shortage has led to a sudden supply crunch in the market, with traders and wholesalers saying the price increase is not artificial but a direct result of reduced availability.

Amar Baniya, President of the Nepal Fruits Wholesale Traders Association, said that for months the market had been supplied with large volumes of bananas smuggled from India.

However, after the association took initiative to stop the sale of such illegal bananas, the supply dropped sharply, creating a gap in the market.

He said Nepal’s domestic banana production remains very weak, and once illegal imports were halted, the market was left empty, pushing prices upward.

At present, consumers are reportedly paying between Rs 300 and Rs 350 for bananas in some areas.

Baniya also raised concerns over weak border monitoring, stating that Indian bananas are still entering Nepal and being sold as domestic produce. He stressed the need for stricter enforcement to control such practices.

He added that while the government claims Nepal is around 80 percent self-sufficient in banana production, the real figure is closer to just 30 percent.

He urged the government to adopt a gradual policy to control imports while boosting domestic production.

Farmers, however, argue that they are selling bananas at Rs 50 to Rs 80 per dozen and accuse middlemen of inflating prices in the market. Baniya rejected this claim.

He further said that many locally available bananas are of poor quality, which has reduced consumer demand and also affected retail traders.

According to him, farmers need to focus on proper grading and packaging to improve marketability.

He also highlighted a lack of coordination between farmers and traders, saying the state should bridge the gap instead of creating division between the two sides.

Baniya also expressed frustration over government inaction, claiming that despite repeated attempts, the association has not even been granted a meeting with the Agriculture Minister to discuss the issue.