Srikakulam: The Uddhanam area in the district, famously known as Konaseema of North Andhra due to its coconut production, is now experiencing a shortage of coconuts and is resorting to imports to meet public demand.
Cyclone Damage Devastates Coconut Plantations
In 2018, cyclone Titli severely damaged around five lakh coconut trees spread over 45,000 acres. Subsequently, new plantations have not yielded the expected results, leading many farmers to switch to alternative crops, while some have become migrant labourers. As temperatures rise, demand for coconuts has increased, pushing traders to import coconuts since local coconuts are not available.
Soaring Prices Amid Scarcity
The coconut prices, which were around Rs 30 at the beginning of April, have now surged to Rs 40-50. Uddanam is renowned for its coconut and cashew production, yet it has faced significant challenges from multiple cyclones, including the Super Cyclone in 1999, Cyclone Hudhud in 2014, and later storms like Phyline and Titli, all of which have adversely affected coconut crops. According to government estimates, Cyclone Titli alone caused damage to approximately five lakh trees across 45,000 acres.
Quality and Dependency
Coconuts from the Uddanam area, which includes Icchapuram, Kanchili, Kaviti, Sompeta, and Vajrapukotturu in Srikakulam, possess a quality and taste comparable to that of coconuts from Konaseema, a fertile delta region and group of islands in the East Godavari district, located between the Godavari River tributaries and the Bay of Bengal. More than 1.5 lakh farmers, labourers, and traders depend on coconut farming across over 60,000 acres. Uddanam has been supplying tender coconuts to parts of North AP, Odisha and Bengal. The yield has come down to 400-500 coconuts as against 1,000-1,200.
Imports from Other Districts
As a result of this shortage, traders are importing coconuts from East Godavari, Anakapalle, and other districts. The demand is particularly high in Palasa and Kasibugga towns, which require around 6,000 coconuts. Due to the scarcity, traders are paying Rs 30 per coconut when sourcing from other areas, according to K. Adinarayana, a trader in Srikakulam.
