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Nut prices high while ministries battle
By Shanika Udawatte
The dispute over the price and sales of coconuts between the Plantation Industries Ministry and the Consumer Affairs Ministry continues leaving the consumers helpless.

Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake has promised that the CWE would be selling coconuts at Rs. 14.95 a nut, but whether the around 150 CWE outlets can cater to the whole consumer population is a questionable issue.

Plantation Industries Minister Lakshman Kiriella told The Sunday Times that currently one million nuts could be provided to the CWE by the various institutions under his ministry and the Coconut Growers Association (CGA).

However acting General Manager of the CWE Wimal Perera said the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) had informed the CWE it would be able to provide 5000 nuts today and would confirm tomorrow how much more it would be able to provide in the future.

The CRI denied this and said it had always been able to provide coconuts to meet the demands of the CWE.

Minister Karunanayake added that the consumer should be able to purchase coconuts at a price between Rs. 11.50 and Rs. 13.50. He said he would not hesitate to import coconuts if their price continues to increase.

The CGA had said that the import of coconuts will definitely have a negative impact on the industry. President of the CGA Denzil Aponso said that from December to mid February coconut production reaches its lowest level and that by March next year the price would come down .

He added that even now the main reason for the price hike is not the shortage of coconuts but the involvement of middlemen who keep profit margins of about six rupees per nut.

He said even in 2000 where there was a good harvest the market price of coconuts was about Rs. 10 with the growers getting Rs. 3 per nut.

'If the government wants coconuts sold at a reasonable price it should buy our coconuts directly without importing it', he said.

Chairman of the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) Dr. Parakrama Waidyanatha said the import of coconuts is illegal under the quarantine act and imports of coconuts may result in the spread of pests and mites, which currently do not exist in Sri Lanka.

Reacting to this statement Minister Karunanayake said if coconuts are to be imported all the necessary steps would be taken to ensure that no pests come along with the coconuts.

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