Guntur: The capital building process has increased the price of bananas, which are essential, during celebration on Vinayaka Chaviti. The soaring banana prices have burdened the public this festive season.
Banana, the most favourite fruit of Lord Ganesha, is a must during Vinayaka Chaviti puja but the poor supply has led to a rise in the price to an all-time high of Rs 100 a dozen.
Earlier, banana was mostly cultivated in lanka (island) and jareebu (fertile) lands of Amaravati Capital Region but with these lands being pooled for the new capital, Amaravati, the production has been affected. The public, mainly devotees, were forced to spend double and even triple the amount, which they used to earlier, to buy bananas.
Karpura, Chakkarakeli, Amruthapani and Kura Arati (curry banana) are the varieties of bananas produced in Guntur and Krishna districts. The Nanded, Cheetah, Red Banana, Virupakshi and Nendran are other varieties, which are imported from other states by the traders.
The cultivation of Karpura, Chakkarakeli, Amruthapani and Kura Arati had stopped in nearly 5,000 acres in Harischandrapuram, Rayapudi, Abbarajupalem, Borupalem, Lingayapalem, Mandadam, Uddandarayuni-palem, Venkatapalem and Tallayapalem, all villages in the Amaravati Capital Region, and so traders have imported bananas from other states.
"People worship Lord Ganesha for nine days during Vinayaka Chaviti and banana, along with coconut, are essential offerings to the God. But, bananas which were available for Rs 30-Rs 40 a dozen have increased to Rs 80-Rs 100 this festive season. Rise in price of banana is usual during festivals but this time, it has reached an all-time high, said P. Prabhakar, a resident of Arundalpet in Guntur city. "This would mean we have to spend nearly Rs 1,000 exclusively on bananas during the festival," added N. Koteswara Rao, a devotee.
D. Venkateswara Rao, a trader in fruits, said earlier Karpura, Chakkarakeli, Amrutha-pani and Kura Arati varieties used to be exported to Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and other areas, after meeting the needs of people in Vijayawada, Guntur, Mangalagiri and other areas. The cultivation of banana has stopped in Amaravati Capital Region and so we are forced to import bananas from other states paying extra money. "The demand for bananas has increased due to marriages and festivals. It will reduce in the next few days," he added.
