The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Coconut farmers a happy lot

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Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Coconut farmers a happy lot

B.V.S. Bhaskar

They get good price for their produce this year

Ambajipet (East Godavari): Coconut farmers of Konaseema are a happy lot as they get good price this year compared to last five to six years. As the quality and area of production increased this year, the arrival of coconut to Ambajipet market has doubled and rate has also gone up from Rs.1900 to Rs.4000 per thousand coconuts. Export of coconut to other states has just begun and farmers are getting remunerative prices for their product.

In 1999-2000 the rate was Rs.1600 for 1,000 coconuts. The rate has further come down to Rs.1200 due to mite attack . Former Speaker GMC Balayogi fought for coconut farmers in 2002 and got compensation from the Union Government then. In 2007 the coconut farmers took up agitation demanding minimum guarantee price. The best quality coconut was sold at Rs.1800 per thousand coconuts.

Farmers spent Rs.1750 per thousand coconuts for production. Including four percent tax, transportation and other expenses it came to Rs.1900.

Then the farmers suffered losses and they agitated for minimum guarantee price last December. Both TDP and Congress have supported their stir.

Coconut is cultivated in 1.05 lakh hectares in the State and of it 90 percent is from Konaseema only. Every year the farmers produce Rs.115.8 crores worth coconut. Area of cultivation is extending at the rate of 2.5 percent every year and production is rising at 6.5 percent. About 100 byproducts are being produced from coconut including oil.

Worst hit

Farmers of Konaseema were worst hit in 1996 cyclone, in which 20 percent of coconut groves were lost and farmers never recovered from the loss till now. Adding to the apathy of the farmers the 2002 Iriofid mite attacked the coconut groves and with that the size of the coconut became small and it is an irrecoverable loss to the farmer.

Finally, the things have now changed and farmers are happy with new rate.

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Andhra Pradesh