Banana prices have broken all records, reaching Rs 80 per dozen owing to shortage coupled with export diversion. This past fortnight, rates spiraled from Rs 50-60 per dozen to Rs 80 in Borivli, Breach Candy, Matunga, Bandra West, Khar and Andheri West. In Kandivli, Malad and Colaba, rates have risen correspondingly from Rs 50-60 to Rs 60-70. The pricier elaichi banana has been selling for Rs 80-100 per dozen for months.
Vendors say they purchase by the kilo, not dozen, and the price has risen steadily due to a shortage of availability. A fruit seller at Four Bungalows market, Andheri said: "We are sourcing banana for Rs 32-42 per kg depending upon the quality and size of the fruit. I paid Rs 750 for an 18 kg crate. And since buyers here demand good quality fruit, we buy robust green bananas which come seven or eight to a kilo. So if I purchase seven bananas for Rs 42, I cannot sell for less than Rs 80 per dozen."
[ Rs 100 = €1.10 ]
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com