MUMBAI: After milk and eggs, banana rates have broken all records to scale Rs 80 per lots due to scarcity coupled with export diversion.

This previous fortnight, rates spiralled from Rs 50-60 per lots to Rs 80 in Borivli, Breach Candy, Matunga, Bandra West, Khar and Andheri West.

Banana is the most typically consumed fruit in the country.In Kandivli, Malad and Colaba, rates have actually increased similarly from Rs 50-60 to Rs 60-70.

The costlier elaichi banana has been selling for Rs 80-100 a lots for months.Vendors say they acquire by the kilo, not dozen, and the rate has increased progressively due to scarcity of availability.

A fruit seller at Four Bungalows market, Andheri, who priced estimate Rs 80 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 18kg cage.

And because buyers here require excellent quality fruit, we buy robust green bananas which come seven or eight to a kilo.

If I acquire seven bananas for Rs 42, I can not offer for less than Rs 80 per dozen.

Manoj Kailashrao, a vendor in Shimpoli, Borivli, stated, Buyers contest the increase.

And we frequently offer at expense price as banana is disposable.

Byculla trader Shantanu Meher gave the detailed dynamics of the banana market.

Many farmers had stopped growing the fruit after getting a pittance for their fruit and vegetables during the pandemic.

So there is a scarcity throughout growing locations like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra.

Now not just is there high need countrywide, exports too have grown.

Around 80% of offered banana is being despatched to Iran, Iraq, Oman and Qatar.

Generally Ecuador and Philippines supply to them however one is brief while the other is showing costly to the Middle East.

So India is filling the requirement, he stated.

Farmers are getting up to Rs 30 per kg where they earlier got Rs 2-3.

Retailers claim that quickly, bananas too will sell by the kilo rather than dozen.

Malls and delivery chains currently sell by kilo.

The online rate for the common robusta range is Rs 48-50 per kg.

Buyers feel a product is more affordable when we quote Rs 48-50 a kg than when we state Rs 80 a dozen.

They fail to understand they get just seven or eight, not 12, for that amount, stated the Andheri stall owner.

We too will need to switch to this ploy.