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Concerned over the steep fall in the price of coconut oil, the Coconut Development Board (CDB) has urged the state government to put pressure on the Union Ministry of Commerce to restrict or introduce a total ban on the import of palm oil through South Indian ports. The CDB has also asked the Union Government to provide incentives for the export of coconut oil.
“Palm oil is the major competitor for coconut oil in the state. Coconut oil is used as edible oil in Kerala and the neighbouring regions of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, a ban on the import of palm oil through the southern ports will lead to an increased demand for coconut oil,” said CDB chairman T K Jose in a letter sent to the Chief Minister.
The CDB has also urged the Chief Minister to put pressure on the Central Government to lift the quantity restriction on the export of coconut oil and to allow bulk packing in South Indian ports.
“The coconut oil export is limited to a maximum of 10,000 MT. Such a restricted quantity can only be exported in branded consumer packs up to 5 kg each. Since domestic as well as international prices are almost on par with each other, the export market is competitive for coconut oil. The huge ethnic population of South Indian people in the Middle East countries is another advantage. Now it is catered by coconut oil from Sri Lanka and Philippines,” said the CDB chairman. Meanwhile, the CDB in its own capacity is planning to facilitate copra processing through federations of coconut producing societies.
“The federations will give processed copra to Kerafed and Marketfed, the designated procurement agencies. The processing activities will begin by the end of August. Initially, the Board will select 20 federations for the purpose. The selection of the beneficiary federations will be over by the second week of August,” the CDB authorities said. The Board will facilitate transparency in procurement. “The formation of more federations in the field will create transparency, and farmers will get benefits,” they said.
According to the statistics available with the CDB, from November, 2011, to May, 2012, import of refined oil (RBD Palmolein) increased by 97 per cent and touched 10,84,033 MT as compared to 5,51,327 in the previous year. During the same period, crude palm kernel oil import increased by 82 per cent, and crude palm oil by 14 per cent.
The current year import during this season is 64,692 MT, while last year, the import was 35,564 MT.
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