Kerala farmers in distress as price of coffee, cocoa declines

Kattappana: The price fall in coffee, occurring just two weeks after a drop in cocoa prices, has left farmers in anguish.

The farmers who had high expectations on coffee prices are now disappointed as the price of coffee cherries has been reduced to Rs 185 from Rs 240 per kilo, and the price of coffee beans, which were priced at Rs 362, has been reduced to Rs 300. 

In 4 years, the price of coffee cherries, which was Rs 70 in high-range markets, had risen to Rs 230–240 and the price of coffee beans, Rs 362 from Rs 110. The drop in coffee production due to the decline in coffee cultivation contributed to the price rise. But as large traders and coffee manufacturing units became reluctant to purchase coffee beans due to their high price, the prices dropped. 

The all-time record price of cocoa also fell by half in two weeks. In the beginning of May, dry cocoa beans were priced at Rs 1,000–1,080, which is currently priced at Rs 580–610. The price of green cocoa, which was priced at Rs 270, also dropped to Rs 180.

Farmers in Idukki had largely paused cocoa cultivation due to infestation by squirrels and woodpeckers, resulting in a sharp decrease in production and an increase in prices. But traders state the reason for the steep fall in its prices is due to the intervention of the lobby between chocolate companies and small traders who sell cocoa. 

Cocoa is mainly obtained from Kattappana, Vandiperiyar, Adimali, Kumali, etc. in high ranges.