Despite being one of the largest banana producers in the world, exports of the fruit from India to various countries saw a steep decline in 2011-12 due to low pricing in the international market.
Brazil and India are the two biggest banana producing countries in the world, but India hardly has a significant share in the international trade, accounting for just 0.02 per cent of the total of 90.7 million tonnes, the Confederation of Indian Industry’s feasibility report on banana trade said.
“India while being the largest producer of banana at about 28 per cent of world production, does not account as one of the banana trading nations.
“Total exports of banana from India are about 0.03 million tonnes out of the total exports of 14.58 million tonnes, constituting 0.02 per cent of world trade”, the report said.
India exports to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Nepal, Qatar, Oman, Maldives and the Korean republic. In volume terms, Indian exports constitute 4.50 crore units, it said.
In 2011-12, 21,525 tonnes of banana were exported of the total 2,56,767 fresh fruit exports from the country.
In value terms, banana exports slipped to Rs 29.39 crore (from Rs 81.19 crore in 2010-11) of total fresh fruit exports of Rs 735.83 crore in 2011-12. In 2010-11, it was Rs 495.98 crore.
In volume terms, exports of banana stood at 34,711 units of the total fresh fruits of 2,54,900 in 2010-11.
The report said the share of banana in total fresh fruit exports declined due to low pricing in the international market.
Noting that developing countries account for a bulk of banana exports in world trade, it said the largest banana exporters were Ecuador at 18 per cent, Costa Rica 12 per cent, Columbia 12 per cent, Honduras 11 per cent, Philippines 11 per cent and Panama six per cent.
“These six countries account for 73 per cent of the banana trade”, it said, adding USA and the European Union are major banana consumers.
The report said banana trade in the domestic market is highly unorganised and mostly undertaken by traders who do not invest in any infrastructure.
Observing that total arrivals in 31 markets was less than one million tonnes, it said Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore show maximum arrivals of more than 60 per cent.
The main markets that produce banana in India are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, accounting for 68.67 per cent of India’s production, the report said, adding banana ranks first in production after Mango and citrus among fruit crops.
Banana production has gradually increased in the last 20 years due to various factors like increase in cultivation area from two lakh hectares to 6.2 lakh, improved productivity and concerted efforts in banana research and development.
Among various varieties of banana, the Cavendish variety accounts for 69 per cent of production, followed by Poovan 17 per cent, Pome, Nendran, Rasthali, Bluggoe each four per cent.
In Tamil Nadu, the major fruits produced are banana, mango, sapota (Chikku), grapes, guava and Aonla.
Noting that Tamil Nadu produces over 20 types of banana, it suggested setting up a cold chain facility in Tamil Nadu.
“Though the requirement for establishing a cold chain facility is for whole of the produced banana,” it said, adding a pilot project should be taken up in high density zones.
The report said post production systems do not follow any cold chain systems as in developed banana economies.
“Any intervention by the government will act as a model for the rest of areas within Tamil Nadu”, it said.