As Kerala prepares for the grand festival of Onam, the kitchen staple and local favourite, the Nendran banana, has assumed a premium status. In markets across Idukki district, raw plantains are commanding record-high prices owing to a drastic drop in supply. Farmers are currently receiving ₹70 to ₹75 per kilogramme at the farmgate—a massive jump from the ₹45 average recorded just a month ago. In the retail market, prices have easily crossed the ₹80 threshold, leaving households in a pinch as they plan their festive menus.

A historic peak for High Range farmers
According to local agricultural communities in Adimali and the surrounding High Range areas, this is the first time in 12 years that Nendran prices have breached the ₹70 mark during this particular harvest season. However, this price surge is not entirely a cause for celebration. Over the last few years, a large section of farmers in the High Range region abandoned plantain cultivation due to persistently poor returns. This systemic neglect has led to a major drop in domestic production, which is now driving the price hike.

Climate change and supply chain disruptions
The current crisis is further compounded by a significant dip in external supplies. Unpredictable weather patterns and climate change have severely affected the output in Wayanad, another major source of plantains for the state. To make matters worse, imports from traditional agricultural hubs in Tamil Nadu, including Mettupalayam, have dwindled significantly, causing a severe demand-supply mismatch in Kerala’s retail markets.

Shortage of festive table essentials
It is not just the large Nendran bananas that are feeling the heat. Small banana varieties, particularly the Njalippoovan, which is an indispensable element of the traditional Onam feast (Onasadya), are also witnessing a similar trend. Prices for the small banana have comfortably climbed past ₹80 per kilogramme. However, local supply remains highly constrained, with trade experts estimating a 40 per cent drop in small banana production compared to last year. As the festive season nears its peak, both consumers and traders are bracing for tighter budgets and higher grocery bills.