KATHMANDU, April 22: Gyanendra Shahi has written an open letter to the prime minister, urging immediate action to address widening price disparities faced by banana farmers.
The parliamentary party leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party called on the government to bridge the gap between farm-gate prices and market rates. He made the letter public through social media.
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In the letter, Shahi pointed out that bananas are currently selling in the market at Rs 350 to Rs 400 per dozen, while farmers receive only Rs 70 to Rs 85. He described the situation as deeply unfair.
“Producers are not even receiving minimum returns, while consumers are forced to pay high prices,” he wrote.
Shahi attributed the problem largely to the dominance of middlemen. According to him, bananas purchased cheaply from farmers pass through multiple layers before reaching consumers, with prices rising sharply at each stage. Farmers, lacking direct access to markets, are forced to rely on intermediaries.
He argued that the issue is not limited to banana farming but reflects broader structural weaknesses in Nepal’s agricultural system. “If such problems persist, farmers may be discouraged from continuing in agriculture, potentially threatening the country’s food security,” the letter states.
Shahi urged the government to take strict action against exploitative intermediaries, ensure fair pricing for farmers, and reform the agricultural market system. He stressed that guaranteeing farmers a price that reflects their labor is a responsibility of the state.
He concluded by expressing hope that the government would treat the issue with urgency and take effective measures soon.
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