Coconut farmers are relieved as fresh coconut and copra prices have soared to all-time highs. The local market price in South India region is up to Rs 55 per kg, while the price of fresh coconut which has gone below the support price set by the government is Rs 34. After Onam in Kochi, it was in the news that the price of fresh coconut in the retail market crossed Rs 70. Similarly, prices of copra and coconut oil also increased.
Farmers, traders and workers alike are in a crisis when there is no coconut when they are getting a good price. Previously, the fresh coconut price was above 40 only for a few months in 2017. At that time, a maximum of Rs 43 per kg was received. In 2021, the price fell sharply and fell below 20.
Ahead of Ona season demand for coconut oil, coconuts were shipped in large quantities in June, July and August. Due to this, there was a decrease in coconut reaching the market in September. Due to climate change, the production has also decreased significantly.
The central government has increased the import tax on edible oils to increase coconut prices. On September 14, the central government raised the import duty on edible oils to curb the import of palm oil, sunflower and soybean oils. The prices of these items have increased with the increase of tax from 20 percent. After that, the coconut market woke up with the consumption of coconut oil. The recent drop in copra supply from Tamil Nadu to coconut oil companies has led to the price hike.
A large number of coconuts were transported to the northern states of India ahead of the Navratri festival. This is also an achievement. Those in the sector say that coconut production will not increase in the coming months and the demand will increase during the Sabarimala season. Farmers in almost all parts are eager to harvest amid rising prices.
Soaring copra; Boiling coconut oil
After fresh coconut, copra and coconut oil prices have seen a big jump. Coconut oil was priced at Rs 16,000 per quintal at the beginning of July and was priced at Rs 20,800 by the end of September. Various brands in the retail market have also increased their prices.
Similar is the status of copra. All items have gone up in price. Dilpasant, a fine variety of inner colored copra, rose to Rs 13,600 from Rs 10,500 per quintal in July.
Kerala’s unique variety of Milkoprak, which is used only to make coconut oil from goat’s milk, has gone up by Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 in three months. 9500 in July, the average price has now increased to Rs 13,500. Ras, a colorless variety of mill copra, fetched as high as Rs 10,300 per quintal in January but has declined since then. Now the price has reached Rs.13,000. 10,500 per quintal of fresh coconut, which is made in the attic for months, has now reached 18,000 rupees. Meanwhile, the price of Unda had reached 20,000 rupees. The price of Rajapur cut according to Unda is the highest. In January, it was Rs 11,500 and has gone up to Rs 20,000.
As the scarcity of the commodity worsened in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, many buyers came forward to secure the copra trade, which the sellers said was prohibitive. In Kochi, copra prices increased by Rs 300 each. In Kochi, copra is now 13,500 and coconut oil is 19,500.
