CERTAIN FACTORS AFFECTING THE MARKETING OF COCONUTS

With reference to the magnitude of trade, coconuts, coprs coconut oil, coir and coconut cake are important products. During the last four to five years the Indian consumption of nuts has increased rapidly. This is partly accounted for by the fall in the prices of nuts and the consequent attempt on the part of the producer to dispose of his produce in the most remunerative manner. When the price of copra is low the producer is able to realise more money by disposing of the nuts as whole nuts for edible purposes. Excluding Madras, Hyderabad, Mysore and Travancore the consumption of nuts for the remaining parts of India is about 150 million nuts per annum. India imports annually about 12 million nuts from foreign countries. The imports, however, have not increased appreciably in recent times. It is interesting to note that India has been the net importer of coconuts since 1900, in spite of the fact that at one time there were large exports of coconuts, copra and coconut oil from India. The imports of nuts therefore may be said to be due to the proximity of nut producing centres as well as due to the traditionl channels of trade. In the exports of nuts the district of Malabar is most important. The total exports from the ports in Malabar averaged to about 100 million nuts per annum. The most important nut exporting centres are Calicut. Badagara, and Ponani, Calicut alone exporting about 50 million nuts.