04/01/2016 (Hindu Business Line) - Coconut farmers are keenly looking for government intervention to get the support price for copra increased as the diminishing market prices pose a severe threat to the profit margins.

Raising the matter at the grievances redress meeting organised by the district administration for farmers here, C. Manoharan, the district secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, said that the market price for copra had come down from Rs. 110 a kg to almost Rs. 56 a kg in the last one year.

“Hoarding by traders and import of palm oil in large quantities can be cited as some of the reasons for the fall in prices,” he said.

K.C.M. Balasubramanian, another farmer, said that apart from increasing the support prices, steps should be taken to distribute coconut oil through public distribution system so as to boost up the demand for coconut.

The farmers requested the Collector to allot a bus stop in front of the new Collectorate.