Coconut stock is piling up at a farm near Punalvasal in Peravurani block of Thanjavur district. | Photo credit: R. VENGADESH
Coconut farmers in central districts have been unable to fulfill export orders to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as the conflict in West Asia enters its third week.
Farmers say the cancellation of shipments to the GCC (consisting of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the UAE and Bahrain) has caused a glut and depressed prices in the local market.
“Before the war, our coconuts were fetching ₹24 per piece locally. Since the first week of March, they have been selling between ₹16-18. Apart from partially husked coconuts, export orders for coir fiber, used as an alternative to peat, have been badly hit. ‘Mattai ₹ sell per piece’ (co) has lost its husks (co) market value,” said SV Kumarasu of Nakkeerar Coconut Farmer Producer Collective. Company for The Hindu.
The society brings together at least 1,500 coconut farmers from 15 villages in Alangudi taluk of Pudukottai district.
Coconut farmers in Thanjavur district are also facing a surplus crop due to the closure of international shipping in recent weeks. “More than 1,000 of our farmers in the delta areas are waiting for the situation to improve. If the current coconut crop is not sold in the next few months, it will be dried and processed into oil,” said A. Kamal Basha of the Tamil Nadu Coconut Growers Association in Thanjavur.
K. Adaikalam, managing committee member of the East Coast Coconut Growers Federation, Pattukottai, urged the government to intervene and ensure a fair price to the farmers.
“In the current scenario, value addition to the coconut crop should become a priority. Apart from intermediation at a fair price from private oil mills, the authorities could consider promoting the use of virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut processing. The ban on toddy could be lifted to help farmers compensate for their losses,” he said.
Published – March 19, 2026 5:20 PM IST
