About Banana
India is the world's largest banana producer. Tissue-culture Cavendish plantations and cold chains have made it a fast-growing banana exporter.
Where Banana Is Grown in Karnataka
The main banana districts of Karnataka are Chitradurga, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Davangere. Karnataka is India's leading producer of ragi, coffee, arecanut and silk, and a top producer of maize, tur, tomato, onion, flowers, grapes, pomegranate and coconut. Bengaluru is the centre of India's flower trade, and Davangere, Kalaburagi, Kolar and Byadgi host major crop markets.
Season in Karnataka
Year-round. Exact arrival dates in Karnataka depend on local sowing and the monsoon, so check current arrivals before planning purchases.
How Banana Is Sold in Karnataka
Farm produce is sold through regulated APMC market yards under the state's agricultural produce marketing law, run by the state agricultural marketing board, with many yards linked to eNAM. Karnataka was one of the first states to run a unified electronic market platform across its APMCs.
Other major markets in Karnataka
- Yeshwanthpur APMC, BengaluruOnion, potato, grainsAboutExplore
- K.R. Market and IFAB, BengaluruFlowersAboutExplore
- DavangereMaizeAboutExplore
- KalaburagiTurAboutExplore
- KolarTomatoAboutExplore
- ShivamoggaArecanutAboutExplore
- ByadgiChilliAboutExplore
State Agencies in Karnataka
Banana has no minimum support price, so it is bought almost entirely by private traders, processors and exporters. State marketing bodies regulate the markets and support farmer producer organisations.
- Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing BoardRegulated marketsAboutExplore
- Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies CorporationRagi and paddy procurementAboutExplore
- CAMPCO and arecanut cooperativesArecanut marketingAboutExplore
Quality and Price Notes
Grand Naine (Cavendish) dominates commercial and export plantations. Robusta and Dwarf Cavendish are also common; Poovan, Rasthali, Ney Poovan (elakki), Nendran, Red Banana and Monthan (cooking banana) serve regional markets, and Kerala's Nendran goes into chips.
Export bananas are graded by finger length and diameter (calibre), uniform green colour and freedom from blemish, latex staining and bruises. Hands are packed in 13 kg cartons. Domestic bananas are sold by bunch weight or by the dozen after ripening.
Banana prices rise in the festival months (Shravan, Navratri, Diwali) and fall in summer. Cyclones in Andhra and Tamil Nadu, Fusarium wilt and supply from Jalgaon decide regional prices. Export growth has lifted farm prices in Theni, Anantapur and Jalgaon.
Buyers, Processors and Exporters
These companies and bodies buy, process or export banana across India, including from Karnataka. Tap a name for details.
- Desai Fruits & Vegetables Pvt LtdBanana farming and ripeningAboutExplore
- Jain Irrigation Systems LtdTissue-culture plants and dripAboutExplore
- INI Farms Pvt LtdExporter of bananas, pomegranates and grapes to about 35 countriesAboutExplore
- Freshtrop Fruits LtdAhmedabad · listed; grapes and pomegranate exporterAboutExplore
- KB Exports Pvt LtdMumbai · fresh fruit and vegetable exporter (KayBee)AboutExplore
- Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company LtdNashik · grapes, fruits and processingAboutExplore
- APEDAExport registration and residue control (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet)AboutExplore
Research and Advice in Karnataka
New varieties, crop advice and seed for banana growers in Karnataka come from the state agricultural universities below and from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in each district.
- University of Agricultural Sciences, BengaluruBengaluruAboutExplore
- University of Agricultural Sciences, DharwadDharwadAboutExplore
- University of Horticultural SciencesBagalkotAboutExplore
Banana in Other States
Andhra Pradesh · Gujarat · Maharashtra · Tamil Nadu · Madhya Pradesh · Uttar Pradesh · Kerala · Bihar · Mizoram
Related: Banana – all India · Karnataka · All crops
Names are listed for reference only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation. The About and Explore buttons open Google in a new tab; results there are generated by Google and third parties, not by this site. Prices, MSP, export rules and schemes change often. Nothing here is financial, legal or purchasing advice. Full disclaimer