Panaji: To provide relief to consumers from high coconut prices during Ganesh Chaturthi, the Goa State Horticultural Corporation Ltd (GSHCL) has procured around 70,000 coconuts for sale at subsidised rates through its outlets from Wednesday. Corporation chairman Premendra Shet announced the initiative on Wednesday. Around 25,000 coconuts were sold on the first day.The coconuts are being sold at Rs 38 per nut. Of the total stock, around 35,000 were procured from outside Goa, while the remaining 35,000 were sourced from farmers within the state.Agriculture director and GSHCL managing director Chandrahas Desai said the corporation had opted for bigger-sized coconuts as they are considered more suitable for festival preparations, when households require them for various religious and culinary purposes.Goa has around 1,200 horticulture outlets selling subsidised goods. “Around 60% of the outlets are currently seeking coconut supplies. The coconuts will also be made available through 17 procurement centres across the state,” Desai told TOI.He said the initial stock of 70,000 coconuts was expected to meet demand during the festival. “However, the government will assess the situation and, if necessary, consider additional procurement and extend the intervention up to around the 11th day of Ganesh Chaturthi,” he said.Coconuts are currently retailing at Rs 45 to Rs 70, depending on size, in local markets. Vendors attributed the rise in prices to seasonal demand during Shravan and ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, when coconut is widely used in several recipes.“The subsidized nuts are a welcome relief; however, the govt must make efforts to also regulate the prices during this time since coconut price inflation seems to have become an annual occurrence during Shravan,” said buyer Vinanti Naik.
