Arrival of bananas for auction at the Integrated Market Complex for Banana at Thiruchendurai in the district has increased gradually with about 2,556 bunches being auctioned on Tuesday.
Thirty-three farmers and 22 traders participated in the weekly auction. About 1,780 bunches of poovan , 165 rasathali , 21 monthan , 464 karupuravalli, and 120 Yelarasi variety bananas were auctioned.
Top quality poovan banana fetched a maximum of Rs. 246 a bunch, rasathali Rs.215 a bunch, karpooravalli Rs.225 a bunch, and monthan Rs. 200 a bunch.
The fruits, totally sold for Rs. 1.87 lakh, were brought by farmers from Manachanallur, Kiliyanallur, Sirugambur, Kodiyalam, Podhavur, Kovathakudi, Pettavaithalai, Kattuputhur, Manjakorai, Pandiyapuram, Perugamani, Valadi, Easanakorai, Kulithalai, Lalgudi, Thanjavur, and Orathanadu, District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan said in a press release.
Payments were made immediately to farmers following the auction. The next auction would be held on December 9. Farmers need not pay any commission for selling their produce at the auction held at the integrated market complex, she said.