Sharp fall in coconut price

Amalapuram: Coconut growers in the district, mainly in Konaseema area, are expressing concern over the downfall of coconut price this year when compared to last year and demanded the government provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the coconut growers.

Last year in the same period, the cost of 1,000 coconuts was Rs 12,000 and now it drastically came down to Rs 6,000. Moreover, the coolie rates also increased and the coconut growers are facing problem with this and also it became a difficult task to cut the coconuts from coconut trees.

The coconut growers are demanding the government to purchase coconuts produce through NAFED and waive one per cent market cess as done in Tamil Nadu state. One per cent market cess is also preventing NAFED to purchase coconuts. Coconut crop is under cultivation in three lakh hectares in the state out of which in East Godavari the crop is under cultivation in 1.25 lakh hectares.

A coconut farmer M Rama Subba Rao of Mummidivaram alleged that the government is neglecting the coconut crop and its farmers. There is a scope to set up coconut based industries, if the government extends necessary help to coconut growers, he said.