Coconut prices up

by M. Maharuf, Kurunegala South Gr. Cor.

The price of coconuts has increased in Kurunegala and suburban areas in the last two weeks. The increase of price of coconuts has grately benefited smallholders of coconuts in the rural areas.

The price of king coconuts has come down with commencement of the rainy season. Small holders in rural areas send their coconuts to the town area to get a higher price. Pluckers have also increased their fee and demand Rs. 60 to Rs. 70 per tree. There is an acute shortage of pluckers in rural areas. Production of coconuts in the town area has gone down considerably due to large scale uprooting of trees to build houses and the partition of land into small blocks.