Tender coconuts expensive in state due to fall in yield

Visakhapatnam: Facing a shortfall in sourcing tender coconuts, wholesale and retail vendors in parts of Andhra Pradesh are sweating it out to meet the soaring demand from the public.
From selling at ₹40 a piece in Vizag, Vijayawada and a few other cities and towns in last month, the cost of tender coconut has reached ₹50 to ₹60 apiece a now and the price of tender coconut water increased to ₹150 a litre from ₹120 a litre.

Normally, the price of the tender coconut is high during the peak summer. But, this time the price of the tender coconut has increased to ₹50 apiece due to shortage of supply in local markets.
Tender coconuts for Vizag city are sourced from parts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Anakapalle districts.
“On an average, my stall needs at least 500 tender coconuts a day. But I have been sourcing only 200 to 300 tender coconuts a day for the past few weeks as the wholesale dealers struggle to source and supply the tender coconuts due to low supply to the local markets,” said S Kiran, a retail trader in Vizag city.
The sellers say that a piece of tender coconut that was being sold at ₹30 to ₹40 till second week of August is now available for ₹50 and ₹60 depending on the quality and size in many parts of the state. The demand for the tender coconut has increased by over 60 per cent and the supply to the local markets has decreased by over 40 per cent. Some of the coconut farmers are selling the tender coconuts to some soft-drinks firms at high prices so that the supply of tender coconuts to the local markets has decreased, said D Pydaiah, a coconut farmer in Srikakulam district.
Apart from the low supply, the high demand for coconut is another reason for the pushing the prices. With the rising fever cases across the state, the doctors advised them to consume more tender coconut water. Tender coconut business is much better near hospitals these days.
“Traders near hospitals are selling the tender coconut water at ₹150 per litre bottle citing low supply and high demand. We have no option than pay more money for coconuts,” said K Siva, a consumer.
Medical experts say coconut water is beneficial for patients as it helps keep the body hydrated and gives some energy. There is also high demand for the sugarcane juice in Vizag city and a few other parts of the state.
The dealers mainly blamed the shortage on the fall in yield in parts of the state for the increasing prices of tender coconuts. The dealers are expecting that the prices may decrease in the winter season.