The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Coconut ryots an agitated lot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 22, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Coconut ryots an agitated lot

B.V.S. Bhaskar

Ambajipet (East Godavari): After paddy farmers, now it is the turn of coconut farmers of the Konaseema area to agitate in a big way for minimum guarantee price. While the TDP is backing the agitation, Congress leaders are supportive of the demands of coconut farmers.

Coconut is cultivated in 1.05 lakh hectors in the State of which 90 per cent is in Konaseema alone. Every year farmers produce Rs. 115.8 crores of coconut and the area under cultivation is increasing at the rate of 2.5 per cent every year and production is rising at 6.5 per cent. Some hundred byproducts are being produced from coconut, including oil.

However, the rate in the market for production is always less compared to other agriculture products. The 1996 cyclone dealt a crippling blow to the farmers of the region -- 20 per cent of coconut groves were lost. The farmers have not recovered from the loss till now.

Adding to the woes of the farmers, in 2002, Iriofid mite attacked the coconut groves. The size of the coconut became small causing severe losses to the farmers.

Mite attack

In 1999-2000 the rate was Rs. 1,600 for one thousand coconuts. After the mite attack, the rate tumbled to Rs. 1,200. Former Speaker GMC Balayogi fought for coconut farmers in 2002 and got Rs. 3.20 crores compensation from the Union Government. Then the rate slowly increased up to Rs. 2,400.

Now, things are back to square one with even best quality coconut fetching Rs.1,800 per thousand.

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