@ Rs 30, the coconut isn’t tender anymore

Coconut, common man’s cool drink is out of his reach. In a season, where the price of the tender coconut is expected to fall, it now soars at Rs 30.

Vendors have attributed the soaring prices to cyclone Hudhud. “The cyclone has devastated the plantations in East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts resulting in shortage of tender coconuts,” said Appanna.

Due to shortage of the local fruit, traders are importing tender coconuts, which are yellow in colour, from Kerala. The tender coconut which is marginally bigger in size is sold at Rs 30. The humungous cost of the tender coconut is due to the huge transportation costs involved.

Earlier, coconut water used to be sold at Rs 50 to Rs 60 per litre, when each coconut cost Rs 10 to Rs 15. Now, tender coconut water of the Kerala fruit is being sold as high as Rs 190 per litre.

The abnormal increase in the price of tender coconut has put a heavy burden on patients, who consume its water for its nutritional values. If the shortage of local fruit continues for more months, the price of imported coconut might touch Rs 50 in the summer. While the vendors are cashing in, it is always the customer who is feeling the pinch.