Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has advised farmers to sell coconut and copra immediately upon harvest, saying there would be little chance for their prices to increase.
An econometric analysis carried out by Tamil Nadu Agriclultural University, the price of coconut during Feb-March will be around Rs.26,000 to Rs. 27,000 per tonne and Rs.14 to Rs.15 per nut, weighing 550 to 600 gram at farm level in Pollachi.
The prices of coconut will be lower by Re one to a few rupees in other markets, when compared to Pollachi, due to its better quality, while copra price will rule around Rs.94 to Rs. 96 per kg at Avalpoondurai regulated market, the analysis said.
There will be lesser chance for price increase after April month and the farmers are advised to sell coconut and copra immediately on harvest.
At present, coconut is ruling around Rs.28,500 per tonne in Pollachi market and Rs.16 -17 per nut for average size weighing 550-660 grams, while copra is sold at Rs 96 to Rs.98 per kg in Avalpoondurai, it said.
Current arrivals from Tamil Nadu have already commenced and arrivals from Kerala and Karnataka will begin from February first week onwards. The good monsoon will boost the coconut production in the coming months.
In 2013-14, coconut was cultivated in an area of 2.15 million hectares, with an annual production of 16.56 million tonnes, with Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh being the major coconut producing states.
