Lok Sabha Question No. 4900 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-23
Subject: Crisis Faced by Coconut Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4900

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23 RD  JULY, 2019

## CRISIS FACED BY COCONUT FARMERS

4900.  SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state :

(a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  coconut  farmers  in  Kerala  are  in distress due to decline in market prices of coconut;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  procure  coconut  from  farmers  through Government agencies of Kerala and determine the support price of coconut; and

(d) if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): The  prices  of  agricultural  produce  are  determined  by  supply  and  demand conditions in the market on a day-to-day basis. Price of agricultural produce tends to fall after  the  harvesting  season  due  to  increase  in  market  arrival  of  new  crop  in  a  lumpy manner. The Government has fixed the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for copra (milling) and copra (ball) at Rs. 9521/quintal and Rs. 9920/quintal respectively for the calendar year 2019.    The  wholesale  prices  of  copra  are  more  or  less  close  to  the  level  of  MSPs.  A statement showing market-wise wholesale prices of copra in Kerala is given at Annexure .

(c) & (d): The Government launched Umbrella Scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan' (PM-AASHA) which provides for a holistic arrangement for assurance of a remunerative and stable price environment for growers /farmers to increase agriculture production and productivity. This umbrella Scheme comprises Price Support Scheme (PSS) for  pulses  &  oilseeds,  Price  Deficiency  Payment  Scheme  (PDPS)  and  Pilot  of  Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS) for oilseeds to ensure MSP to the farmers.

The oilseeds producing states have the option to roll out PPSS on pilot basis in district / selected Agriculture  Produce  Market  Committees  (APMCs)  of  district  involving  the participation of private stockist. The pilot district / selected APMC(s) of district will cover one or  more  crop  of  oilseeds  for  which  MSP  is  notified.  This  is  akin  to  PSS  and  it  involves physical procurement of the notified oilseeds.

The Government of Kerala has submitted proposal for procurement of copra at MSP under Price Support Scheme (PSS) during 2019 season. The said proposal received from Government of Kerala is not in pursuance with the extant PSS guidelines, 2018. Therefore, Government of Kerala have been requested to provide the requisite information for further processing of the proposal, which is still awaited from them.

Annexure Referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4900 Due for Answer on 23/07/2019

## ANNEXURE

## Monthly Average Wholesale Prices of Copra in Kerala from January 2019 to July 2019

Rs.per quintal

|              |           | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   | 2019   |
|--------------|-----------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Centre       | Variety   | JAN    | FEB    | MAR    | APR    | MAY    | JUN    | JULY * |
| Alleppey     | FAQ       | 11850  | 11250  | 10150  | 9950   | 8900   | 8950   | 8850   |
| Alleppey     | Sun Dried | 11900  | 11200  | 10200  | 10000  | 8950   | 9000   | 8900   |
| Cochin       | -         | 12100  | 11200  | 10200  | 10000  | 8900   | 9000   | 8950   |
| Irinjalakudu | Sun Dried | 11323  | 10575  | 9853   | 9798   | 8673   | 8735   | 8673   |
| Kozhikode    | Asitis    | 11700  | 11000  | 10500  | 10000  | 9000   | 9200   | 8900   |
| Kozhikode    | Ball      | 13000  | 13500  | 13200  | 14500  | 13000  | 10500  | 9500   |
| Kozhikode    | Milling   | 11700  | 11000  | 10500  | 10000  | 9000   | 9200   | 8900   |
| Payyannur    | Milling   | 10500  | 10200  | 10000  | 9700   | 8500   | 8500   | 8300   |
| Kollam       | Pass      | 12500  | 11700  | 11200  | 10200  | 9300   | 9300   | 9200   |

Source: DES, MOAFW

Note: * up to 12th July 2019

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