PANAJI
Speaking to The Goan Everyday, GSHCL Managing Director Madhav Kelkar informed, "As coconut prices have gone very high, we have taken a decision to sell coconuts at subsidised rates at three of our outlets - in Municipal Market and Altinho, Panaji, and at the procurement centre in Navelim."
Currently, prices of coconuts vary from Rs 18 to Rs 40 per coconut in the open market.
"Sale of coconuts at subsidised rates is a stop-gap arrangement to give relief to coconut consumers till the rates of coconuts in the open market are stabilised. Coconuts will be procured from local farmers and partly from government farms too," said Kelkar.
He also informed that the prices of coconuts sold at these outlets would definitely be lower than those sold in the open market.
"Goa Bagayatdar fixes rates after studying the rates of crops sold in the open market. As far as fixing of prices of coconuts is concerned we would work in coordination with Goa Bagayatdar," he said.
Meanwhile, coconut farmers spoke about the reasons for soaring prices of coconuts in the open market. "Due to prolonged rainfall, farmers have not been able to pluck coconuts. Also, draught in Karnataka and TN has affected prodction, a farmer said.
