KADAPA: Banana farmers throughout Rayalaseema have as soon as once more been pushed into uncertainty as market costs have witnessed a pointy fall, dropping from almost ₹22,000 per tonne to round ₹15,000 in latest weeks, leaving growers struggling to get well cultivation prices regardless of an excellent harvest.

Farmers who had regained hope earlier this yr are actually dealing with contemporary losses. In January, costs had touched almost ₹25,000 per tonne, elevating expectations of worthwhile returns after months of hardship. Nevertheless, the sudden decline has as soon as once more dampened their prospects.

In native markets, bananas that earlier offered for ₹40–₹45 per kg are actually fetching solely ₹22–₹25 per kg, additional highlighting the extent of the worth crash.

This isn’t the primary setback for growers. Throughout November 2025, banana costs had plunged to as little as ₹2,000–₹3,000 per tonne, forcing a number of farmers to desert their crop within the fields as returns failed even to cowl labour prices.

The premium Grand 9 (G9) banana selection is extensively cultivated in Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur districts. Throughout Kadapa, Kurnool, Nandyal and Anantapur districts, the crop is grown in almost 50,000 hectares, with a mean yield of about 20 tonnes per acre.

Farmers make investments near ₹1.5 lakh per acre on cultivation. Growers say costs should stay above ₹22,000 per tonne to make sure viable returns.

“When costs fall to ₹15,000 per tonne, we can’t even get well our funding,” stated Subramanyam, a farmer from Rajampet mandal. “If low costs happen in the course of the second or third harvest, we will in some way handle. However when the primary harvest itself fetches poor charges, our complete season collapses.”

Farmers and officers attribute the worth crash to declining exports, early summer time warmth situations and the dearth of storage services. In contrast to another crops, bananas can’t be saved for lengthy intervals, forcing farmers to promote instantly after harvest.

A horticulture division official in Kadapa district stated slowing exports notably to Gulf nations amid geopolitical tensions have additionally affected demand.

“Manufacturing is nice this season, however exports have slowed and native markets are unable to soak up the availability. This has resulted in a pointy value decline,” the official defined.

In keeping with agriculture estimates, bananas are cultivated in almost one lakh hectares throughout Andhra Pradesh, with Rayalaseema accounting for nearly half of the entire space.

Kondareddy, a farmer from Parnapalle village in Pulivendula constituency, stated the scenario was deeply irritating.

“We labored onerous and achieved a superb yield this time. However with out a correct value, all our efforts are getting into useless,” he stated. “Good manufacturing ought to carry income, not losses.”

Rayalaseema Banana Cultivation

District Space below Cultivation (hectares) Annual Manufacturing (metric tonnes)

Kadapa 26,449 ha As much as 16 lakh MT

Kurnool 4,670 ha As much as 3 lakh MT

Nandyal 81 ha Round 5,000 MT

Anantapur 15,848 ha As much as 10 lakh MT