For the first time in 15 months, the price of row coconuts has fallen below ₹50 per kilogram. On Thursday, the price stood at ₹48 per kg. Copra is currently priced at ₹15,600 per quintal. In line with this, coconut oil prices have also begun to decline, now standing at ₹28,000 per quintal.

While the drop in prices offers some relief to consumers, farmers fear that coconut prices could fall even below the minimum support price. Although the fall is attributed to increased arrivals during the harvest season, traders point out that there has not been any major rise in supply in Kerala so far.

After the price decline, the arrival of row coconuts in markets has actually reduced remarkably. Despite this, the reason for the continuing fall in prices remains unclear, traders say.

At the beginning of February, tender coconuts were priced at ₹6,800 per quintal, while copra was selling at ₹19,250 per quintal. There are also allegations that attempts to bring down coconut oil prices in states such as Tamil Nadu ahead of elections have contributed to the fall in coconut prices.

Fifteen months of good prices

Coconut prices began recovering from September 2024 after nearly two-and-a-half years of severe decline. By December that year, the price of tender coconuts crossed ₹50 per kg and copra prices rose above ₹16,000 per quintal. Prices continued to climb steadily thereafter.

In June 2025, tender coconuts fetched as much as ₹78 per kg, while copra prices crossed ₹26,000 per quintal. Farmers received good prices throughout 2025.

However, the trend began to reverse from February this year, and by March the price of tender coconuts had dropped back to around ₹50 per kg.

Some traders indicate that certain oil mill owners have deliberately reduced coconut procurement. There are suspicions that this is part of a strategy to artificially reduce demand and push prices down.

In Tamil Nadu, coconut prices have fallen to ₹45 per kg. In the Kangeyam market, copra is priced at ₹15,200 per quintal.

Farmers fear losses

Once coconut prices fall below ₹50 per kg, farmers begin to face serious setbacks.

When prices were high, the cost of climbing coconut trees, dehusking and other related agricultural labour had increased significantly. As a result, cultivation costs have risen compared to earlier periods.

Farmers say that when coconut prices were favourable, these higher labour costs did not pose a problem. However, when prices fall, labour charges do not decrease, which could eventually make coconut cultivation unprofitable.