Movement of Wholesale Prices of Coconuts, Copra and Coconut Oil in Kerala During the Last Two and Half Decades
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1986
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This study reveals the highly erratic nature of movement of wholesale prices of coconuts, copra and coconut oil in respect of Calicut market which reflects the situation of entire Kerala State. The violent fluctuations in these prices are found to be for more than one reason. The major factor behind this is the uncertainty of weather which leads to the volatility in the supply-demand gap in the edible oil sector in general and coconut oil sector in particular. While the prospects of improved supplies of oilseeds and oils following favourable weather, liberal imports, lower tariff values and anti-inflationary measures favour the lowering of prices, the unfavourable weather, restricted imports, higher tariff values, inflationary spiral, and black economy push the prices forward. Easy availability of comparatively cheaper substitutes to coconut oil both in the edible and non-edible sectors appears to have made coconut oil noncompetitive, thus vulnerable to crash in prices in favourable years of production. For evading the present crisis of slump in coconut sector it is suggested to develop technology on the alternative use of coconuts, to extend the support price or market intervenation price system to milling copra and to adopt scientific coconut farming system which will ultimately bring desired cost effectiveness in coconut through increased productivity.
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Journal of Plantation Crops 14(2): 105-114, December 1986