AP Rythu Sangham is urging the state government to procure bananas at a minimum support price of ₹ 15,000 per tonne through agencies like MARKFED or alternatively pay a compensation of ₹ 1 lakh per acre to the affected farmers. | Photo credit: File Photo
The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham has appealed to Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaida to urgently intervene to support banana farmers who have suffered severe losses due to a sharp fall in prices following the suspension of exports to the war-torn Gulf countries.
In a statement submitted on Tuesday, the farmers’ association said the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US-Israel combine has severely affected shipping routes to the Gulf and West Asian countries. As a result, the export of bananas from Andhra Pradesh came to a standstill.
Farmers in districts like Anantapur, Nandyal, Kadapa, Guntur, Bapatla, NTR, Eluru, East Godavari and Vizianagaram have grown bananas on a large scale. Even two weeks ago, banana prices were hovering between ₹22,000 and ₹25,000 per tonne. However, after exports stopped, prices fell drastically to around ₹5,000 per tonne, leaving farmers in dire straits.
The association highlighted that due to lack of buyers, ripe bananas were rotting in the plantations causing heavy financial losses to the farmers. He urged the state government to procure bananas at a minimum support price of ₹15,000 per tonne through agencies like MARKFED and other procurement bodies.
The farmers’ body also suggested that the recovered bananas could be distributed to government hostels, anganwadi centers, schools, colleges, universities and hospitals. They said this would not only provide relief to farmers but also improve nutritional intake among students, children and patients.
In case awarding of contracts was not possible, the association demanded payment of compensation of ₹ 1 lakh per acre to the affected banana farmers. The statement was emailed to the minister.
Published – 17 March 2026 20:43 IST
