Mysuru: Prices of coconuts have gone up and it is selling at Rs.35 to Rs.40 a nut. Last year’s deficit rainfall has resulted in the shortage of the nuts. The price of a good quality big size nut is Rs. 35 while a medium size nut is sold at Rs.22. The prices have gone up from Re. 1 to Rs. 5 depending upon the size.

Sudhakar, a coconut merchant in Devaraja Market, speaking to Star of Mysore said that they get coconuts from different coconut growing centres like Channarayapatna, K.R. Pet, Pandavapura, Nanjangud, Chamarajanagar and Saligrama and the present rate of each ton is between Rs.47,000 to Rs. 48,000. “There are possibilities of the coconut rates reaching Rs.50,000 a ton, if the shortage continues,” he said.

The rate of a small sized nut was Rs.16 last month and it is now sold at Rs.17, the medium sized which cost Rs.20 is now sold at Rs.22, while a bigger size sold at Rs.30 last month now costs Rs.35 and the biggest size nut sold at Rs. 35 last month now costs Rs.40, said Sudhakar.

However, in some extensions it is being sold at Rs.50. “I bought a big-sized coconut for Rs.50 at Nanjumalige market. I had never paid so much for a nut,” said Umashanker, a resident of Lakshmipuram.

Coconuts are even sold in small shops and they are being sold at Rs.18 for a small-sized one and Rs.25 for a medium-sized nut. The prices are not likely to come down in the near future, said Sudhakar.