Margao: With coconut prices skyrocketing across Goa, the Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC) has decided to procure a consignment of 25,000 coconuts from Karnataka to distribute at its outlets on a no-profit, no-loss basis in a bid to stabilise prices and offer relief to consumers.
Coconuts are currently retailing at unprecedented rates between Rs 50 and Rs 70 per nut, depending on size, compared to the usual Rs 20-Rs 25. The price surge, which escalated sharply over the past week, has severely impacted household budgets, prompting calls for government intervention.
“We have resolved to intervene. Within the next two days, we will be bringing in 25,000 coconuts from Karnataka—possibly for the first time—and distributing them through our outlets to meet the demand,” said GSHC managing director Chandrahas Desai while speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’. “The price has surged by 150 to 200 per cent in the last week alone. We aim to sell these coconuts at no profit and no loss.”
Desai explained that although the corporation has never previously sourced coconuts from outside dealers, the move was necessary due to urgent appeals from the public. “The common man is bearing the brunt of the price hike and has urged us to step in,” he said.
Desai attributed part of the crisis to local shortages, noting that Rhesus Macaques (locally known as Khetem) have damaged a significant portion of this season’s coconut crop. “Normally, coconuts harvested in May are used during the monsoon months, but harvesting does not take place in June and July due to the rains. We expect supply to improve in August, once landlords begin harvesting again,” he added.
He also said that the high cost of coconut plucking is another reason why many landlords delay or avoid harvesting on time.
Official statistics back the trend of falling production. According to the Agriculture Department, Goa’s coconut yield has been declining steadily. In 2022–2023, the state produced 163 million coconuts, with an average yield of 6,113 nuts per hectare. This dropped to 160.9 million coconuts (6,006 nuts/ha) in 2023-2024 and further to 150.8 million coconuts in 2024-2025, signalling a continuing downward trend.
