India, Oct. 7 -- Wholesale banana prices have fallen to their lowest levels in drought-hit Jalgaon, Maharashtra's largest banana-producing district, amid export disruptions to conflict-hit West Asia. Inferior-quality produce is fetching as little as Rs.5 per kg, and better-quality is selling for about Rs.11 per kg.

Officials said export disruption is among the reasons for the price decline, as Iran is a major importer of bananas from Jalgaon. The scanty rainfall in September affected the quality.

The crash has pushed some farmers into distress. In Sule village, farmer Vishnu Samadhan Ingle destroyed his four-acre banana plantation with a rotavator after traders offered him only Rs.3 a kg for his crop.

Ingle spent over Rs.7 lakh on the ...