Maintain high coconut prices to foster a sustainable rural economy

摘要

The four southern states of India together account for 90 percent of the coconut production in the country. While the share of India in world production of coconut is 22 percent, Kerala contributes 42.2 percent of it by occupying 40.2 percent of the net cropped area of the state. Income from coconut is the main stay of 3.5 million families in Kerala, though its price was low and erratic for the past several years. It is only recently that coconut fetches an attractive price in the state. A variety ofreasons are contributed to the present phase of the coconut economy of the state which is supposed to be temporary in nature. Production on loss owing to poor rainfall in the other southern states is the major reason behind sudden price hike, while Tumkur and Coimbatore based coconut processor's bulk purchases have also contributed to it. However, the present price of Rs. 15 to 20 per de-husked coconut is the price which the coconut farmers have been cherishing for long. Now the question is how to maintain this price for a longer period. It is possible through supply and demand management of coconut, provided the growers, the government and the Coconut Development Board work together and make combined efforts.