Keram Thingum Keranad Kera farmers suffer heavy losses. The price of copra and coconut oil has fallen. Last weekend, Mangalam reported that wholesalers had indicated that the price of coconut oil and copra would fall. The hint was not lost. Coconut oil and copra prices fell by Rs 400 per quintal. Farmers have lost Rs 700 in the last one month. For farmers with acres of coconut groves in the northern regions, the cost of cultivation and labor wages have increased. Cultivating farmers are not getting enough profit. As production increased and demand decreased, the floor price of copra also plummeted. The floor price for copra has been fixed at Rs 105 90 paise per kg. The wholesale price of milling copra in the market is Rs.77. Farmers are selling copra at a loss of Rs 28 90 paise per kg. Due to internal problems in countries like Pakistan, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and other countries, the movement of coconut oil has stopped and also caused the price of coconut oil to fall. Demand for coconut oil from soap and shampoo makers has also declined. Edible oils like groundnut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil and palm oil are also not in demand. Last week, Cochin Oil Merchants Association, the state’s coconut oil merchants’ association, held its annual meeting in Ernakulam. Sebastian, Deputy Director of Coconut Development Board accepted the invitation and was present in the meeting. Oil mills have 50% subsidy while coconut is a value added product. The deputy director indicated that oil mills should pay more attention to avoid losing this subsidy. The meeting did not come up with a solution or suggestions for the fall in coconut prices. In Kochi, 380 quintals of coconut oil were sold last year. 13,500 per quintal for coconut oil milling, 12,900 for ready, 7,700 for copra proof and 7,500 per quintal.
* Price collapse of pepper
The price of pepper fell once more. Last week, the price of pepper fell by Rs 300 per quintal in Kochi. In the last one month, the price has fallen by Rs. The main reason for the price collapse is the sale of low-quality (non-spicy) imported chillies mixed with local pepper. The price of pepper in Kochi fell following these types of chillies started selling in North Indian markets. 12 years ago, 800 tonnes of imported pepper was stored in various godowns of the National Commodity Exchange. The Food Safety Department has found this pepper to be substandard and has frozen the sale. The Food Safety Department bowed to political pressure from importers. Chillies found to be of poor quality were put up for sale. This chili was mixed with local chili and started selling. This collusion has affected pepper farmers in the state. Middlemen among the farmers are also trapped. 210 tonnes of pepper were sold in Kochi last week. The weekend price of pepper was Rs 49,200 per quintal for ungarbled, garbled chilli Rs 51,200 and fresh chilli Rs 48,200. International price India exports $6,300 per tonne, Sri Lanka $5,200, Vietnam $3,200, Brazil $2,900 and Indonesia $3,300.
* Rubber price increased
With the rise in international prices, tire companies have increased the price of rubber by one rupee per kg. As the rains changed, the production increased. Farmers were hoping that the price would go down, but the needy people bought the price higher. Tire companies in North India tried to reduce prices last week too. RSS has stopped selling at Rs 150 per kg for four weekends. However, big tire companies are asking for 148 rupees. In the international market, holiday trading countries such as China and Tokyo have raised prices. China’s Shanghai Exchange raised prices to Rs 137 from 136 on October holiday, Japanese Exchange on Tokyo market to Rs 128 from Rs 126, and Bangkok’s ready rate from Rs 126 to Rs 128. It is this price increase that the essential tire companies in Kochi have raised the price. Small tire companies bought 200 tonnes of rubber. Dealers supplying tire companies bought 500 tonnes of rubber. 15,000 per quintal of rubber Rs 15,000 per quintal and unsorted at Rs 14,650 per quintal.
* Gold price increased
With the increase in international prices, the price of gold in the domestic market also increased. In Kochi, the price of gold rose by Rs.400. In the international market, the price of gold rose by $14 per ounce (31,100 mg). 13 paise loss to Rs. Gold prices were volatile last week. At the beginning of the week, Pawan started selling at Rs 36,800 and the price dropped to Rs 36,640 the next day. After two days, the price of Pavan rose to Rs 37,120-37,320. Trading ended the weekend lower at 37,200. In the international market, the price of gold rose from 1,644 to 1,660 dollars per ounce, and trading was stopped in New York City. The rupee fell from 81.23 to 81.36.
Leading packet makers bought the premium variety of CTC powdered tea at a discount of Rs.3. All other types of tea prices remain unchanged. 3,75,000 kg of leaves and 10,62,000 kg of powdered leaves were auctioned.
