BANGALORE: Though drought has had less impact on farmers growing coconuts in the state, middlemen at wholesale and retail markets in Ramanagaram district, seem to be looting farmers’ share of profits.The farmers are getting less than 1/5 of the market price of coconuts while there exists a huge gap between profits received by farmers and cost paid by consumers. Ramanagaram APMC procures coconuts from farmers at a price ranging from Rs 2.50 to Rs 5 per coconut, while it is sold at Rs15. A farmer gets a return of Rs1-Rs 2 per coconut. “Considering that coconut husk removal charges costsRs 350 for 1,000 coconuts, wages for coconut tree climbers is Rsw 10 per tree, transportation charges is Rs 250 for each load, commission of Rs 250 at the market, counting charges of Rs 50 for every 1,000 coconuts, farm labour is Rs 1,000, coolie charges is Rs 100 and tree maintenance costs Rs 600. All put together each coconut costs Rs 2.50. So, if we get Rs 5 per nut, the return is just half,” said Vittala Rao Anajawadi, a farmer from Kanakapura. “Sometimes, if the coconut is small in size we get Rs 2-3 per coconut at the market,” he added. Also, in Tumkur, pest attack has ravaged crops leaving the farmers in heavy debts.“We are procuring coconuts which are small in size and are largely used for marriage purposes at a cost of Rs 1 to Rs 3 per coconut while Tiptur coconuts fetch higher price. We have also been getting coconuts from Tamil Nadu,” said Ramadevaru, assistant director, Ramanagarm APMC Market.
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