The Hindu : Business : Government agencies fight over quality of coconut oil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

Business

Business

Government agencies fight over quality of coconut oil

Special Correspondent

The Kerafed authorities highlighted the achievements of the Federation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Barely a week after the Government gave a place of pride to coconut and coconut products as part of the observance of the World Coconut Day, two Government agencies, which have Government patronage, are fighting a pitched battle over coconut oil.

The agencies are the Kerala Kerakarshaka Sahakarana Federation (Kerafed), the apex cooperative body in the coconut sector and the State Civil Supplies Corporation.

The Kerafed authorities held a press conference in the capital city the other day to highlight the achievements of the Federation, which included commencement of the distribution of its Kera coconut oil through vending machines.

They reportedly alleged that the coconut oil distributed by agencies other than it was adulterated.

The Civil Supplies Corporation, which has started retail marketing of its own brand of Sabari coconut oil, took serious exception to the charge. The Civil Supplies Officers Federation, which intervened on the Corporation's behalf, described the statement as ``childish.'' The issue would have cooled down if the Federation had stopped with that. But it went one step ahead and claimed that the sale of Kera had gone down ever since it started marketing the Sabari coconut oil.

The Federation claimed that the price of the refined coconut oil marketed by it was Rs. 10 less per litre than that of the Kera. It asked the Kerafed to take steps like the reduction of price to increase the sale of its coconut oil instead of levelling allegations without any scientific basis against others.

Coconut oil has been remaining unaffordable to the common man for the past several years. The people weaned on coconut oil have been forced to make use of other oils mainly palmolein. It is during the Onam season, thanks to the combined efforts of the Government, the public sector and the cooperative institutions, that coconut oil is distributed at affordable prices. The two agencies seem to have queered the pitch for the current season.

The Federation has even cast aspersions on the quality of the Kerafed's coconut oil, which is being given a wide berth by the people. Under the circumstances, it remains to be seen whether quality coconut oil will be available at affordable price to the common man during the coming Onam season.

While the cooperative institution and the Government agency which are supposed to protect the consumers' interests and keep the price in the open market under control are slipping on coconut oil, the private oil business is having the last laugh. The noisiest laugh might be coming from worst adulterators.

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