Iran-Israel war impacts Indian banana farmers; prices crash
India
Banana farmers in Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, are feeling the heat as the Iran-Israel conflict has nearly halted their exports to the Middle East.
With usual buyers like Iran and United Arab Emirates out of reach, local banana prices have crashed from ₹25 to just ₹8 to ₹9 per kg.
Farmers struggle to recover basic investment
The price drop is making it tough for farmers to even cover their growing costs. As farmer Gauri Shankar puts it, he is unable to recover his basic investment.
Local trader Jakku Darbar shared that he exports about 50 tons and that district exports were once over 200 tons; this year, the export chain has almost come to a halt, forcing them to sell in crowded domestic markets where demand is already low.