Coconut output likely to drop 10% on below normal monsoon

The Coconut Development Board (CDB) has said coconut production across the country is likely to be around 10 per cent lower than in the previous season, owing to a below-normal southwest monsoon. For 2014-15, production stood at 19,503 million nuts.

In Andhra Pradesh, the CDB estimates, production is likely to fall 40 per cent compared to 851 million nuts last season. The declines in Karnataka and Kerala are estimated at 24 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. Tamil Nadu is expected to record a four per cent increase.

These four states account for 93 per cent of national production.

CBD Chairman T K Jose said a poor monsoon had affected production in all the major producing states. He added more varied use of coconut and demand for tender nuts would be vital to determining prices.

Around 10 per cent of the overall production is used for products such as desiccated coconut powder, coconut milk, milk powder and virgin coconut oil. Jose said export of virgin coconut oil had increased sixfold during the June quarter of this financial year, compared to the corresponding period of 2014-15.

CBD plans to increase the production of Neera, a soft drink made from coconut water. It also plans to issue licences to manufacture Neera to all the 624 coconut producer federations.

Jose said adulteration of coconut oil was one of the biggest challenges, adding those behind this hadsabotaged the market by supplying cheap and adulterated oil. To address this, coconut producer companies are planning an entry into the branded oil segment in a big way. So far, 14 such companies have started producing branded products.