Experts predict fall in coconut, copra prices

Coimbatore: According to experts with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), coconut and copra prices are likely to go down in March and April.
The Tamil Nadu irrigated agriculture modernization project-funded price forecasting scheme of the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS) forecasted that a good quality coconut will fetch 12-14 at the farm gate, whereas a kilogram of copra will fetch anywhere between 75-80.
The price forecasting team analyzed past 15 years data from the Avalpoondurai Regulated Market in Erode and Perundurai Cooperative Marketing Society to arrive at the price forecast.
Quoting trade sources, the experts said that copious rain boosted production of coconuts in Tamil Nadu. Copra has started reaching the Perundurai market from Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Pollachi, Palladam, Salem and Kangayam.
Under its procurement scheme, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) purchased nearly 40,600 tonnes of milling copra from Tamil Nadu and 255.55 tonnes from Kerala last year. TNN