Fall in tender coconut prices worries farmers

April 15, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:44 am IST - VIJAYAWADA:

A boy taking tender coconut water to beat the heat in Vijayawada on Thursday.— PHOTO: V. RAJU

A boy taking tender coconut water to beat the heat in Vijayawada on Thursday.— PHOTO: V. RAJU

Drop in tender coconut and ripe coconut prices are causing severe losses to the farmers in Andhra Pradesh. Though there is demand for coconut water in the ongoing summer, traders are not offering good price, the farmers said.

Farmers are raising coconut groves in thousands of acres, particularly in Konaseema districts. Some farmers have taken up coconut farming as inter-crop in paddy fields, but the fall in prices has shattered their dreams.

The arrival of Kerala tender coconuts has decreased the demand for the local produce. Kerala coconuts, which are bigger in size compared to AP, are dominating the local market, ryots said.

“The price of a tender coconut at the farm is Rs. 5 and that of a ripe coconut is almost the same. We have to invest huge amount for raising the orchards, pesticides, maintenance of the orchards and for transportation of the produce after the harvest. There is no profit to the farmers this year,” the coconut farmers said.

In West and East Godavari districts, Narsapuram, Bhimavaram, Palacole, Achanta, Siddhantam, Marteru, Kovvur, Amalapuram, Razole, Kothapeta, Ambazipeta, Ravulapalem, Rajahmundry, Kadiyam, Jaggannapeta and other places are famous for coconut orchards. Coconuts gardens are also being raised in Nellore and parts of Prakasam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.

Some of the famous varieties of coconuts are Godavari Ganga, Gautami Ganga, Kera Sankara and Kera Bastar. Ganga Bondam is the noted variety which is known for tender coconuts in Konaseema area.

“We are investing around Rs. 25,000 per acre per crop. The farmer has to bear the labour charges for plucking and transporting the yield to the trader. But, the price in the market is about Rs. 800 per 100 coconuts. Price of ripe coconuts will increase only during festivals and auspicious days and during normal days we are selling each coconut at Rs.4 to Rs.5,” said a farmer J. Adinarayana of Amalapuram.

Doctors’ advice to patients to drink tender coconut water and rising mercury levels are increasing the demand. But, the Kerala produce arriving in huge quantity has become a competition for the local farmers, the traders said.

“I am importing tender coconuts from Srikakulam district at Rs. 1500 for 100 ‘bondams’ (tender coconuts). But, the stocks arriving from Kerala is discouraging the local traders. We are selling one tender coconut at Rs.20, but people prefer Kerala coconuts which contain one litre of water,” said a trader Kalidindi Ramasunder Raju of West Godavari district.

Coconut farmers are not ready to harvest crop due to less prices

Kerala tender coconuts dominates the yield in AP

Demand for tender coconut water increased due to increased heat waves

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