The high price at which coconuts are being sold in the market is indeed a matter of concern. The poor and those belonging to the middle-income group could be hard hit by the high price of this staple item in Goan cuisine as it is a vital ingredient in curries and various Goan sweets. As a mark of protest, the Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress has been selling coconuts at various places in the state at a subsidized price and people are flocking to buy these coconuts. It is understood that at these coconut sales, the big coconuts were sold at Rs. 10 and the smaller ones were sold at Rs. 5 while the price of coconuts in the market is Rs. 25 onwards. However the move to sell coconuts at a subsidized price could have a negative impact. It is understood that most of these coconuts are being bought by those selling other items in the market. Hence there is every possibility of these people, who have bought the coconuts at a subsidized price, selling them at the market price thus making a handsome profit. Obviously the very purpose of selling coconuts at subsidized price will be defeated. The government needs to go ahead with it’s plan of procuring coconuts from Kerala and Sri Lanka till such time that the price of the locally available coconut stabilizes. The coconuts that have been thus procured needs to be made able to the consumer at a subsidized price through the kiosks selling vegetables and managed by the Horticulture department.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
