Wayanad: Banana farmers seek online network

Wayanad: In the wake of the price crash of banana in the market, the farmers of Wayanad are demanding the government to set up an online marketing network for farm produces bridging the gap between customers and farmers.

If there is a strong network it would be easier for the farmers as well as consumers, said K.R. Santho-sh, a banana farmer of Koliyadi near Sulthan Bathe-ry. “Now, the middlemen reap the benefit while both the farmer and consumer emerge losers”, he added

“The price of banana is still `40 to `50 in the retail market whereas the farmers gets as low as `16 to `22 for one kilogram for majority bunches”, he said. “For the best quality the price is `22 while for second quality stuff the price is `16 and lower”, he said.  “Third and fourth quality bunches are sold out for throw away prices”, he pointed out.

According to noted veterinarian Dr Satheesh Kumar who has been serving in the agrarian district for the last many decades, the farmer has to spend an amount of `150 and more for one bunch of banana. “The expenses of banana farmer start from buying the planting stock which costs `10 to `15 per one”, he said.

“Last year the floods devoured the crop and this year the low price”, he said. “Price crunch has also its implications in the rural economy”, he said, adding that even in beverages outlets, the pall of gloom prevails. There are farmers who had planted from 50 to 10,000 seedlings.

Many pointed out that the excessive banana cultivation in Karnataka, in the ginger farms, has resulted in the price crash.