ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (APP): Pakistan\u2019s banana harvest has surged to an unprecedented level, more than doubling over the last 15 years to reach a record 317,000 tonnes in 2024-25, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The official data available with Wealth Pakistan shows that banana output stood at only 139,000 tonnes in 2010-11, but steady growth \u2014 particularly over the past five years \u2014 has pushed the fruit to become Pakistan\u2019s fastest-growing crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most striking leap occurred from 2020-21 onwards, when production increased from 142,000 tonnes to 216,000 tonnes in 2021-22, representing a jump of over 50 percent within a single year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Output then continued its upward trajectory, touching 292,000 tonnes in 2022-23, 311,000 tonnes in 2023-24, and hitting the provisional record high of 317,000 tonnes in the ongoing 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This sustained rise in production reflects a major transformation in Pakistan\u2019s fruit farming, as growers increasingly shift towards banana cultivation due to strong market demand and better returns compared to several traditional crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Waheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetables Exporters, Importers, and Merchants Association, told Wealth Pakistan that the rapid growth in banana production highlights its export potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He pointed out, however, that Pakistan\u2019s share in the $14 billion international banana export market remains negligible, with current exports standing at only $27.4 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Waheed stressed the need for building a comprehensive banana value chain model that spans cultivation, processing, packaging, and distribution. Such a system would not only improve quality standards and reduce post-harvest losses but also deliver better incomes for farmers while boosting exports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He called for the establishment of large-scale corporate farms to produce high-yielding, premium quality bananas for exports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said state-of-the-art pack houses are essential for cleaning, grading, packing, storing, and exporting bananas, as these facilities serve as a vital link between farms and markets, ensuring freshness and preventing spoilage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Junaid Haider Shah, a banana producer, exporter and processor from Sindh, also underlined the economic transformation brought about by new banana varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farmers\u2019 per-acre income from bananas, which was only around Rs150,000 to Rs200,000 seven years ago, has now climbed to nearly Rs500,000. The new varieties are fungus-resistant, have a longer shelf life, and are far more lucrative than traditional ones, he told Wealth Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banana has now become more profitable than mango, as exports are rising sharply and both demand and prices are increasing in domestic and international markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The yield from modern varieties is significantly higher than older ones, some of which are 50 to 60 years old and no longer competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The banana crop now provides year-round availability, with fruiting starting in just 18 months and continuing on a rolling basis, although production levels decline slightly during winter, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This feature has made banana cultivation particularly attractive for farmers looking for consistent income streams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (APP): Pakistan\u2019s banana harvest has surged to an unprecedented level, more than doubling over the last 15 years to reach a record 317,000 tonnes in 2024-25, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The official data available with Wealth Pakistan shows that banana output stood at only 139,000 tonnes in 2010-11,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26665,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[373],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n