Transportation and Logistics Management in Banana Agribusiness: A Comparative Study of Jalgaon and Solapur Districts of Maharashtra

Banana is one of the major commercial fruit crops cultivated in Maharashtra, with Jalgaon and Solapur representing important banana-producing regions. The movement of harvested banana produce from farms to local markets, wholesalers, retailers, processors and other destinations involves several transportation and logistics activities. Since banana is a highly perishable agricultural commodity, the efficiency of transportation directly affects the physical condition of the produce, delivery time and the extent of transit-related losses. In this context, transportation should not be considered merely as a means of moving produce from one location to another; rather, it forms an important component of the overall agricultural supply chain. The present study focuses specifically on transportation and logistics management associated with banana agribusiness in Jalgaon and Solapur districts of Maharashtra. The study examines the transportation modes used by banana growers, vehicle arrangements, transportation distances, loading and unloading practices, route-related issues, transportation delays and transit losses. A comparative approach is adopted to identify differences in logistics practices between the two selected districts. For the purpose of developing the analytical framework, variables such as transportation mode, vehicle ownership or hiring arrangement, average distance travelled, loading practices, unloading practices, delay frequency and transit loss are considered. The study further attempts to identify major transportation constraints faced by banana growers and develop a management-oriented framework for improving transportation efficiency. The proposed framework integrates harvest planning, transport requirement estimation, vehicle allocation, loading preparation, route planning, transit monitoring, controlled unloading and post-delivery review. The study is expected to provide useful insights for banana growers, traders, transport operators, aggregators, farmer groups and agribusiness organizations involved in the movement of banana produce.