Export of ‘nendran’ bananas from Kerala on the rise

The shipment of bananas has been mainly to European market and countries in West Asia

Chandran CV and Mukesh MM, banana farmers from Mattathur in Thrissur, have much to cheer about this Onam. Nendran bananas from their farms — nearly five metric tonnes — have travelled all the way by sea to reach Kuwait to be sold in retail markets there. Jose KA, another banana farmer from Mattathur, has exported 300 banana leaves from his farm to London by air. The shipment also had vegetables and banana varieties such as nendran, Robusta and kappa pazham (red banana) collected from other farmers. It was in March and April this year that Kerala exported nendran bananas (branded ‘Thalir’) by sea for the first time. Since then there has been a rise in the demand for bananas and vegetables from Kerala in the international market. The ship, which set sail on March 8 from Kochi with six metric tonnes of bananas from the farm of Joby AJ of Puthukkad in Thrissur, reached London port well in time for the festival of Vishu, after over a month’s travel.