Perception of Nanica Banana Producers in Municipalities of Northern Minas Gerais Regarding the Market: Price and Seasonality

Abstract

ABSTRACT Banana is the most produced fruit in the world and Brazil is the fifth largest producer, especially in the Southeast region. Banana farming in the northern region of the State of Minas Gerais is carried out in an irrigated system and the soil and climate conditions contribute to productivity higher than the national average. Among the banana varieties produced in the region, the nanica banana (Cavendish) deserves to be highlighted due to the area occupied and production volume. The price of nanica bananas changes throughout the year, given this context, the objective was to identify and discuss the main factors involved in regulating the average price of Nanica bananas “in natura” based on the producers’ perception. To this end, online questionnaires were administered to producers in Itacarambi-MG and Jaíba-MG, corresponding to the period of nanica banana production in 2025. The results confirm the vulnerability of producers to price variations in the market, since all interviewees stated that they sell their production to wholesalers and distributors. Unfavorable weather conditions and the cost of inputs had a high or critical impact, which contributed to the seasonality of dwarf banana production in the 2025 harvest, with prices in the period varying by more than 100% between the lowest and highest value paid by the wholesale market.