Banana prices are expected to stabilize by next month, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said today, after typhoon damage last year impacted production.
Banana prices have been high this season after three consecutive typhoons hit during the growing season last year, decreasing banana production by 46 percent, Chen said.
As the situation is expected to be temporary, bananas would not be imported to protect the domestic market, he added.
Photo: Lo Hsin-chen, Taipei Times
Chen made the comments at an annual tree-planting ceremony hosted by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and National United University, held at the school’s Bajia campus in Miaoli County.
As bananas require about 10 months to mature, most of the bananas now on the market were planted in May or June last year, he said.
Most domestically grown bananas originate from Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, followed by Nantou County, he added.
At the end of last month, the Ministry of Agriculture advised that banana prices may continue to increase.
The ministry has already partnered with supermarket chains such as PX Mart and Carrefour to establish lower-priced produce sections to stabilize prices and meet consumer demand, Chen said.
The ministry would work with producers to ensure the next crop of bananas enters the market as soon as possible, he added.
In the meantime, the ministry asked for consumers to be patient until market prices stabilize.
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