Higher diesel rates set to push up tender coconut prices

Pune: Tender coconut prices have climbed sharply across the city this summer owing to lesser availability and higher demand. Vendors expect the prices to increase further owing to the recent hike in diesel prices.

“Coconuts available in the market are expensive and the quality is not so great. The vendor who delivers to my house charges Rs 100 per coconut,” said Sarita Krishna, a resident of NIBM Road.

Retail prices for a single tender coconut in several parts of the city have already touched Rs 90 to Rs 100 depending on its size and the neighbourhood. In retail markets, the prices are up by as much as Rs 10 to Rs 20 per piece, and in wholesale markets, prices are up by Rs 5 to Rs 8 a piece.

“Every truckload of coconuts is going to get more expensive due to higher diesel prices. Wholesale rates are already at Rs 70 per piece. Most of the coconuts we get in the city are from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,” said a coconut vendor in Wanowrie.

Lower yields and labour shortages for coconut harvesting are also driving up prices.

Kashinath Pawar, a coconut vendor in Magarpatta said he sells 600-700 coconuts a day. “We depend heavily on coconuts transported from southern India and even a small increase in diesel prices quickly impacts retail rates. I am selling coconuts at Rs 80-90 per piece at present,” he added.

Baner resident Meghana Bharti has completely stopped buying coconuts now. “I have always ordered coconuts via delivery apps. The prices have now crossed Rs 105. I used to purchase it for my mother because of her health issues, but it has become unaffordable,” she said.

Shailendra Prajapati, a coconut vendor near Shivaji Nagar, said, “People won’t buy coconuts if we hike the prices significantly. I’m charging my regular customers the earlier rate of Rs 80 and new customers Rs 90, depending on the size of the coconut.”

Vendors are waiting to understand the exact impact of the diesel price hike on each truckload. “We are in talks with our suppliers on how to manage the price hikes because if the coconuts are too expensive, then sales for us will dip significantly,” said a coconut vendor in Fatimanagar.