Coconut prices to remain stable

Coimbatore, Apr 22 With limited chances for price increase, the coconut farmers are recommended to sell their produce upon harvest without resorting to storage. The nut weighing 600 gram and above will fetch higher prices and one quintal, normally contained an average of 150 nuts, Domestic Export and Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University said today. Based on an analysis of market prices that prevailed in Pollachi market in the district, DEMIC forecast that farm price of coconut will rule beteen Rs. 4.50 to Rs.6.50 per nut from April to June, depending on the size. Coconut was grown in an area 2.13 million hectare in India, with a total production of 15.35 million tonnes of nuts. Tamil Nadu accounted for 21.81 per cent of the area and 31.02 per cent of production, Demic, quoting the First Advances Estimate of Ministry of Agriculture, said.