COIMBATORE: After repeated demands from farmers to distribute coconut oil through ration shops to ensure fair price for coconut and copra, the state civil supplies department has started a survey to find out if ration cardholders would be ready to buy half litre of coconut oil in the place of one litre of palmolein oil.
According to sources, ration shop supervisors of several districts have been provided forms to record the feedback of cardholders.
“The study will be conducted till the end of August. After collecting details, the district administrations will compile a report and send it to the state government,” said Coimbatore Collector Kranti Kumar Pati.
Official sources from the food department said the government has also sought inputs from collectors of districts bordering Kerala, including Kanniyakumari and Tenkasi, regarding the proposal. An official said, “Some residents in these border districts may prefer using coconut oil for cooking. The collectors have been instructed to determine how many cardholders are interested in making the switch.”
A senior official from the civil supplies department said, “Since this is a policy decision, the government will take the final call after reviewing the reports from the study.”
Coconut growers, especially those from Coimbatore and Tiruppur, have been demanding that the state government sell coconut oil through ration shops to ensure a fair price for their produce.
Supply coconut oil through PDS shops irrespective of survey result
During CM M K Stalin’s recent LS poll campaign in Pollachi, he promised to take steps to ensure a better price for coconuts.
Hailing the state government’s move, V K S K Senthilkumar, member of the Coimbatore District Agricultural Production Committee, said, “Currently, the farm-gate price of a coconut is Rs 6 to Rs 8. If the government commences sale of coconut oil through ration shops instead of palmolein oil, it will be a big boost for farmers as they can get better price for their produce.” He urged the state government to implement the change without hesitation. He also added that during copra procurement, priority should be given to cooperative societies, individual farmers, and then private firms.
T A Krishnasami, president of the United South India Coconut Growers Association, Pollachi, said, “At present, copra is procured at Rs 111.60 per kilogram by cooperative societies. Private firms offer up to Rs 90 per kg. Due to the low price, farmers are financially burdened. Did state government conduct such a study before implementing the palmolein oil distribution through ration shops? We urge the state government to commence the distribution of coconut oil through ration shops irrespective of the survey results.”
(With inputs from B Anbuselvan @ Chennai)