THE HARDEST NUT TO CRACK

The coastal state does not have enough coconuts to feed its tourist boom-and itself

- Dhaval S. Kulkarni

IN THE GOA OF THE MIND, there exists a surplus of all good things-and every frame of leisure is fringed by a coconut palm or two. From a cool glass of sol kadi to fish curry to beach shack pina coladas, the sweet tinge of coconut milk tempers everything. In reality, though, Goa's state tree is struggling to cope with the rigours of playing everybody's favourite seaside Eden. Coconuts, of all things, are in crisis.

Goa needs an average of 100,000 coconuts every day but only around 40,000 are available locally. The rest as much as 60 per cent-has to be imported from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu et al.

During the Ganesh festival in late August, when demand rose, the Goa State Horticulture Corporation imported 75,000 coconuts from Karnataka and sold them to consumers at a subsidised Rs 40-45 per piece. Otherwise, retail prices range from Rs 80 to Rs 100 per coconut, depending on its size (and the market's location). Wholesale rates vary from Rs 29 to Rs 50 per coconut.

COCONUT PER CAPITA