Mercury levels are soaring in the city with every passing day but dealers trading in tender coconuts are not sporting smiles. Usually, there is a heavy demand for tender coconut water during summer season but many traders inform that demand is not encouraging this season for different reasons.
There is not much of activity at Sambamurthy Road, Kankipadu, Poranki and other areas, which are hubs for outlets that deal in wholesale business of tender coconuts in the city.
It has been a good harvest this year and in anticipation of high sales, farmers from Bheemavaram, Amalapuram, Rajahmundry, Ambajipeta, Razole, Narsapuram and other areas in West and East Godavari districts are flooding the market with fresh stocks. This is leading to high supply and low demand scenario, says K.V. Subramanyam of Sri Karthik Tender Coconuts at Sambamurthy Road.
“Everyday we get three truck loads of stock from Rajahmundry and there are not many retail takers as stocks are remaining unsold at the outlets for a few days,” he explains.
Last year, traders offered 100 tender coconuts for Rs.1,100 in wholesale market. This year too the same price is being continued and this shows there is less demand in the market due to high supply, adds Narayana Murthy, another trader.
Consumption of tender coconut water is declining every year as people are preferring soft drinks and other energy drinks.
Changing lifestyles are also casting an impact on the sales, except for elderly people and patients, not many prefer to drink coconut water these days, he claims.
However, the price for a tender coconut in most retail outlets costs is Rs.15.
“We need to pay rent for stalls, labour salaries, transportation costs have gone up. Forget about profits, most of us would be happy if we don’t end up in losses,” says Ramesh, a retail stall owner at Patamata.
