In Pune, the price of tender coconuts has gone up a lot due to the hot weather. In February 2024, people are paying ₹60-70 for one coconut, which is much more than the usual price of ₹25-40. This increase in price is making it hard for many people, especially those who drink coconut water regularly. The best quality coconuts are even more expensive, costing ₹70-80 in stores. This price rise is causing problems for both sellers and buyers in the city.
The main reason for the high prices is that there aren't enough coconuts to meet the demand. Most of Pune's coconuts come from Karnataka, which supplies 80-90% of them. Right now, Pune gets about 8-9 truckloads of coconuts every day, with each truck carrying 6,000-7,000 coconuts. However, this amount isn't enough because more people want to buy coconuts as the temperature rises. Traders at the APMC Market Yard say that the wholesale price is now around ₹52-53 each, which is much higher than last year's price of ₹28.
This change in prices shows how the coconut market works with the seasons and temperature. As summer gets hotter, the demand for coconuts increases, but the supply struggles to keep up. This situation makes it hard for everyone involved.
Experts believe that prices might go down by the end of March 2024 because the supply could decrease. This means that the current high prices mightn't last long, but they're still affecting many people right now.
The rise in coconut prices shows how important it's for Pune's supply chain to be strong, especially since it relies a lot on coconuts from Karnataka. The situation also highlights how weather changes can affect prices of important things we buy.
This news reminds us that we need to think about how to make our supply chains better so we can avoid big price changes in the future.
