Coconut oil prices soar to Rs 400/L, amid crop disease, monsoon woes

This hike is attributed to outbreak of whitefly disease, that slashed the yield by over 50%

- VINCENT D'SOUZA @Mangaluru

COCONUT oil, a household staple across coastal Karnataka, has seen a dramatic price surge in recent weeks - now retailing at nearly Rs 400 per litre. The sharp rise, up by Rs 100 in just six months, is being attributed to a severe outbreak of whitefly disease, which has ravaged coconut plantations across the state, slashing the yield by over 50%.

The impact has been so acute that local supply has nearly come to a halt, forcing traders in Mangaluru and other parts of Dakshina Kannada to source coconut and dry copra from Tamil Nadu to meet growing demand. However, much of the copra from outside the state is treated with sulphur to prevent microbial growth and maintain appearance, making untreated varieties a premium product.