HERALD: What impelled the move of procuring coconuts from Sri Lanka?
VIJAI SARDESAI: Orchards of the Agricultural Department producing coconuts were subsidised and given before Diwali and sold through the Horticulture Department. I also agree that the quantity doesn’t suffice to make do such a huge demand. Now that is a demand-supply issue; there is less supply coming in and there is more demand which is why the price is going up; now the question is how do we check this. For that, one would be directly intervening into the market by buying at a higher cost from the producers and selling at subsidised price to the consumer. Second is to source from the producer directly without a middleman. The third option is to import from other states or would be from other countries depending upon which gives you the best rate. My thought of getting some shipments and flooding the market with coconuts will stabilise the price. I have no setting with Sri Lanka.
HERALD: What is the state of coconut production in Goa and when will the issue be resolved?
SARDESAI: There are systemic issues in world and the main source of coconuts to Goa has been Rayalaseema and South Canara region in the past. These regions are presently facing drought and this situation does not get stabilised immediately. Secondly, Goa is in need of harvesters (padeli) who the agriculture department has trained but I have not been able to meet the demand of Goa. Hence we will have to incentivise the teams of harvesters. Third, is the hybrid coconut? There is a farm titled DJ farm, which has brought about a variety or hybrid coconuts, which is a cross between Benaulim and another variety which yields coconut four times faster than the Benaulim variety. This is a clear advantage we see in that coconut hybrid. There are various options which we will explore and people of Goa should understand that this issue, which is a systemic problem, doesn’t solve overnight.
HERALD: Is there an urgent need for importing of coconuts?
SARDESAI: I did not narrow down on importing from Sri Lanka or for that matter any other place beyond Goa. I only mentioned Sri Lanka because we have distinct price advantage where the Rupee is stronger than the currency of Sri Lanka. When there are options being shown in abundance where is the question of urgent important of coconuts?
