Call for Government Nod on Coconut and Copra Imports
10-Jul-2025 06:21 PM
Kochi. Due to the fall in domestic production and strong industrial demand, the prices of coconut and copra have increased tremendously and the market is still at a very high level.
In view of this, the Central Oil Merchants Association (COMA) has requested the Central Government to allow the import of coconut and copra and to remove the legal barriers imposed on it.
In a letter sent to the Prime Minister and the Union Commerce Minister, COMA has said that due to the fall in production, there is a shortage of coconut and copra and due to lack of sufficient stock, its business is being seriously affected. Prices have also increased tremendously.
Keeping this in mind, the government should remove the rules and controls imposed on the import of coconut and copra from countries like Indonesia and Philippines.
In these countries, the product is available in sufficient quantity at a very cheap price. Only after this import, the crisis of shortage of copra for milling can be overcome.
The president of COMA has also urged the Central Government to stop the export of coconut, copra and coconut oil from the country for some time so that it can help save the existence of Kerala's coconut oil industry.
The operation of oil mills is being badly affected due to the acute shortage of copra and coconut oil, which has put the employment of more than one lakh people at risk.
Due to the acute shortage of goods, the price of copra has jumped to Rs 257 per kg and the price of coconut oil has jumped to a high of Rs 387 per liter.
If the government does not take any positive decision soon, the price of coconut oil may rise to Rs 400 per liter. This unexpected price rise is causing great difficulty to the common people of Kerala because coconut oil has been used as edible oil there. It is the only state to do so.
The association has also urged the government to take necessary precautionary steps to increase the production of coconut in the country.
No new coconut plantation has been planted in Kerala for years while the productivity of trees in old plantations has decreased. Labor costs are also high.