Cochin Oil Merchants Association (COMA) has raised its concern over the mismatch in prices of coconut oil and copra, saying it confirms ‘adulteration’.
The general perception in the market is that, if copra prices are ruling at ₹100 per kg, coconut oil should be traded at ₹150 per kg after taking into account extraction cost, labour charges etc. Today the price in Tamil Nadu is hovering in the range of ₹130 per kg, which is an indication of some unethical trading practices taking place in some centres there, Thalath Mahmood, Director, COMA said.
According to him, there was no change in copra prices in the last six months and the commodity is trading above ₹90 per kg. Given the situation, it should be investigated how the centres in Tamil Nadu are able to sell coconut oil at ₹130 per kg.
COMA, he said, has taken up the matter with Food Safety Commissioner, Kerala to initiate steps to check samples of coconut oil coming from Tamil Nadu at border check posts. If necessary, these samples should be sent to central laboratories either in Pune or Mysore to confirm adulteration, he added.
Meanwhile, the coconut oil market is ruling steady in Kerala and Tamil Nadu this week with prices quoted at ₹13,800 and ₹13,200 per quintal respectively. Copra prices are ruling at ₹9,800 in Kerala and ₹9,700 per quintal in Tamil Nadu, registering a slight decline from last weeks levels.
Bharat Khona, former Board Member said that the market in anticipation of fresh arrivals has started sliding down. The loose market in Tamil Nadu is ruling at ₹1,960 for 15 kg, a drop of ₹30 from last week.