Over Ramadan, the people of Kashmir consumed more than 446tn of Bananas worth around US $209,135 each day. Bashir Ahmed Basheer, President Parimpora Fruit Mandi, told The Kashmir Monitor that an average 40 to 45 truckloads of bananas reach the valley daily.

“The demand for bananas shows a steep increase in the month of Ramadan, while it remains the same in the remaining months,” he said.

“Each truck carries 9 tons of bananas, meaning that 45 trucks carry 4,050 quintals of the fruit. Each box has a weight of 15 kilograms and carries nine dozen bananas. The same goes to several valley markets every day,” he said.

“The price of one box of bananas ranges from Rs 450 to 500. Mostly, people in the other states do not consume bananas in winter, but in Kashmir people do consume it,” he said.

A banana wholesaler, Abdul Ahad said the markets have an abundance of bananas. “We supply bananas to thousands of vendors each day. once the fruit reaches the markets, it is sold for Rs 70-80 a dozen,” said Ahad.