Coconut Growers in Despair as Output Slumps

It seems the coconut farming sector in South India has been hit by what can be termed as a paradox of prosperity.

- Manoj Viswanathan @ Kochi

It seems the coconut farming sector in South India has been hit by what can be termed as a paradox of prosperity. While the price of coconut has skyrocketed, a shroud of melancholy has enveloped the sector in Kerala, with farmers in distress over a steep decline in production.

The price of coconut has touched ₹80 per kg in the local market while coconut oil is selling for over ₹400 a litre. Mill owners and manufacturers are in crisis due to scarcity of nuts and exporters have taken huge losses, unable to balance purchase and market prices.

"We procure coconut from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There has been a steep decline in productivity, which has triggered scarcity in the market. Our export volumes have taken a beating and we have rescheduled work shifts at the factory due to non-availability of coconut. We are unable to increase the price in the export market as that will affect our pricing advantage," said the owner of a leading export firm.