Whilst the export of fresh fruits increased from 3 lakh metric tons in 2017-2018 to 5.07 lakh metric tons between 2020 and 2021, banana exports increased from 1.01 lakh metric tons in 2018 to 1.95 lakh metric last year, according to a report released by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). India’s closest neighbour Nepal and Iraq combined consumed over 50 percent of the bananas that were exported from India, followed closely by China and Philippines, the two biggest competitors vying for a share in the international export market. Since the pandemic caused unprecedented local demands in China and Philippines, they were forced to meet the growing demands and cut down on the exports. This invariably created a big gap in the market.  According to most…

Is it time to go bananas for banana exporters in Pollachi? What does the new year have in store for banana exporters? Will the situation following the outbreak of the pandemic since last year ever improve?  Lockdown due to the COVID-19 situation brought the curtains down, for most businesses ceased to operate, but banana exports, according to industry experts, skyrocketed during the same the period. Experts forecast that the numbers are slated to further grow, though there can be a few stumbling blocks that impede the growth rate.  Now let’s further get into the details.   It comes as no surprise that the pandemic killed almost every business since the government imposed draconian lockdown and quarantine measures to contain the ongoing pandemic. The general public generally stayed indoors most part…

For most banana exporters in Pollachi in the state of Tamilnadu, the year 2020 will be a year remembered for all the wrong reasons. Obviously, the outbreak of the most catastrophic pandemic, namely the COVID-19 or Novel Coronavirus, brought almost all businesses to a standstill, in addition to the millions of lives consumed by the deadly virus. With hopes shattered, confidence lost and uncertainty looming in at large, even as we enter the new year stealthily, the situation seemed grounded to the fact that time is not yet ripe for the export of agro-based products.   From buffalo meet and rice to perishable products, including bananas, exports of major agricultural produce from our country has been severely hit to the worsening coronavirus outbreak in the European Union (EU), South-east Asia…