ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s banana production hit a new peak of 317,000 tonnes in the 2024-25 season, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). This marks a significant leap from 139,000 tonnes in 2010-11. Over the last 15 years, production has more than doubled, demonstrating the growth in the sector.
The most notable increase came after 2020-21, when banana production surged from 142,000 tonnes to 216,000 tonnes in 2021-22, a rise of over 50%. This upward trend continued, reaching 292,000 tonnes in 2022-23 and 311,000 tonnes in 2023-24. This season’s record output highlights a consistent rise in banana cultivation.
Industry insiders attribute the surge in production to factors like increased domestic demand, higher returns compared to traditional crops, and the introduction of high-yield, disease-resistant banana varieties. Farmers’ income from bananas has significantly improved, with per-acre earnings rising from Rs 150,000–200,000 seven years ago to nearly Rs 500,000 today.
Despite these gains, Pakistan’s banana export share remains limited. The country earned just $27.4 million from banana exports, a small fraction of the global $14 billion market. This discrepancy has raised calls for developing a full banana value chain to increase quality, reduce post-harvest losses, and boost exports.
Experts suggest establishing large-scale corporate farms and modern pack houses to maintain banana quality and meet international standards. They also recommend adopting modern banana varieties for year-round production, although slight dips in output occur during winter months. This could help Pakistan tap into global markets more effectively and enhance the industry’s export potential.