Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Aug 21: With Ganesh Chaturthi around the corner, coconut prices in Goa have shot up sharply, touching nearly Rs 100 for a large-sized nut in some markets. The sudden spike has sparked concern among households preparing for the festival.

Currently, a small-sized coconut is priced at Rs 45 (up from Rs 20–25 earlier), while a medium-sized one sells for around Rs 60. Vendors in certain areas are quoting Rs 90 for jumbo-sized coconuts, making the essential festive item dearer for consumers.

Agriculture experts blame premature plucking, monkey menace, rising fertiliser costs, and farmer migration for the drop in production. “During monsoons, harvesting itself is difficult. Added to this, many fields remain unattended, giving animals like monkeys a free hand to destroy crops,” said Agriculture Director Sandeep Fol Dessai, adding that prices are expected to stabilise once harvesting resumes post-monsoon.

Vendors pointed to higher labour and transport costs as another factor behind the hike. “A jumbo coconut now goes for Rs 90, as everything depends on weight,” said grocery store owner Nitin Manjrekar.

To provide some relief, the Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd has announced it will import one lakh coconuts from Karnataka, selling them at a subsidised price of Rs 44 per piece. However, officials admit this procurement may still fall short of the festive demand.

Former Agriculture Director Nevil Alphonso said productivity of local varieties has also dropped. “The Benaulim tree can yield 70–80 coconuts per season, but fertiliser prices and labour charges for pluckers have gone up, adding to costs,” he noted.