Pakistan’s banana production has reached an all-time high of 317,000 tonnes in 2024-25, more than doubling in fifteen years, as farmers increasingly adopt high-yield varieties over traditional crops.
Official figures reveal banana output was just 139,000 tonnes in 2010-11, but consistent growth, particularly in the last five years, has made bananas the country’s fastest-growing fruit crop.
The most striking jump came in 2021-22, when production rose from 142,000 tonnes to 216,000 tonnes, a leap of over 50 percent in just one year. Output then continued climbing steadily, hitting record levels.
Experts say this surge highlights the crop’s strong demand and better profitability compared to mangoes. Farmers are now shifting to bananas as the fruit promises higher income and growing export opportunities.
Industry leaders, however, stress that Pakistan’s global share remains small, with banana exports worth only $27.4 million against a $14 billion global market, urging a full value chain to unlock potential.
Producers in Sindh emphasize that new fungus-resistant banana varieties with longer shelf life have transformed farming incomes, raising earnings per acre to nearly Rs500,000, making bananas more lucrative than mangoes.