Coconut and copra prices are expected to remain static over the next few months, says the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). They say this is due to coconut production being above normal in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. However, there may be slight hope in the form of a spike in demand from North India over the next month. Export demand of the nut is also expected to be high.
Experts say, though coconut production is higher than normal in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it has been below normal in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. "This is because of the drought like conditions in both these states," said a TNAU official. "Farmers have been disappointed about the price they could demand for their nuts because production was high in the district. And that usually means having to settle for a lower price in the market," said a Pollachi-based coconut farmer, D Manivannan.
Officials in TNAU's Coconut Research Station in TNAU said, during auctions, coconuts have only managed to garner a price of Rs7.70 per nut. "The farmers are obviously upset because last year they managed to get a price of Rs14 to Rs15 per nut," said N Shoba, head of the station.
"We have an auction every 45 days, the next one being on May 11, where the price is usually fixed," she said. "They are hoping it goes up," she said. "The fact that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh's production is low might come as good news to farmers," said Manivannan.
TNAU's Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS) has predicted that the price of good quality coconut will be around Rs8 to Rs9 per nut and good quality copra will get a price of Rs52 to Rs54 per kg.
"This is after analysis of prices that prevailed for the last 14 years in the Avalpoonthurai regulated market in Erode," said a TNAU official. "Increase in demand from North India and exports will help, but coconut arrivals from Mysore in June might impede prices soon after," he said.
Experts say, though coconut production is higher than normal in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it has been below normal in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. "This is because of the drought like conditions in both these states," said a TNAU official. "Farmers have been disappointed about the price they could demand for their nuts because production was high in the district. And that usually means having to settle for a lower price in the market," said a Pollachi-based coconut farmer, D Manivannan.
Officials in TNAU's Coconut Research Station in TNAU said, during auctions, coconuts have only managed to garner a price of Rs7.70 per nut. "The farmers are obviously upset because last year they managed to get a price of Rs14 to Rs15 per nut," said N Shoba, head of the station.
"We have an auction every 45 days, the next one being on May 11, where the price is usually fixed," she said. "They are hoping it goes up," she said. "The fact that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh's production is low might come as good news to farmers," said Manivannan.
TNAU's Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS) has predicted that the price of good quality coconut will be around Rs8 to Rs9 per nut and good quality copra will get a price of Rs52 to Rs54 per kg.
"This is after analysis of prices that prevailed for the last 14 years in the Avalpoonthurai regulated market in Erode," said a TNAU official. "Increase in demand from North India and exports will help, but coconut arrivals from Mysore in June might impede prices soon after," he said.