Value Chain of Banana in Western Tamil Nadu, India

This book focuses on the economic analysis of value chain of banana in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. In this study survey was conducted among farmers and different market intermediaries. Price spread analyses and marketing efficiency indices were worked out. There were eight marketing channels identified in the study area. The net income realised for Nendran and Robusta were considerably higher at Rs.101016.70 and Rs.100903.82 than Poovan and Kathali variety at Rs.74975.38 and Rs.77049.35 per hectare. Transportation cost, cost of grading/sorting, cost of packaging materials were found to be high in Kathali followed by Robusta, Nendran and Poovan. The profit margins were found to be higher for wholesaler ranging between Rs.716.15 and Rs.751.33 compared to other intermediary in the banana marketing channel. The marketing efficiency was higher for Nendran in channel 1 whereas for other varieties, it was in channel 2. The farmers expressed that wind followed by high labour cost and low price of the produce were the problems in banana cultivation. Perishability followed by low price of the produce, price fluctuation and late payment by traders were the most important problems.