Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 9: Heat has been increasing in the city with each passing day. People who go out under the hot sun become very thirsty and any amount of water fails to satiate it. Cold drinks too fail to satisfy them. The city has a large number of people who prefer tender coconuts when they become thirsty.

As usual, demand for tender coconut has been going up in the city this summer. Push carts and stalls selling tender coconuts have mushroomed everywhere. The sellers say that supply of tender coconuts has gone up in tune with the rising demand, and in the coming days, the supplies will be still more.

Tender coconuts are supplied here from places like Mandya, K R Pet, Shravanabelagola, Kadur, Chikkamagaluru etc. 'Gendale' variety of tender coconuts come from Tamil Nadu. Local tender coconuts are rarely available. The merchants who faced losses last year hope to recoup the same this year.

So far, prices of tender coconuts have remained stable. Big ones are priced at Rs 35 apiece while the smaller ones are sold for Rs l25 each. 'Gendale' variety is sold for Rs 40 to Rs 45.

As Mumbai too heats up during the summer, demand for tender coconut is much more there. As tender coconuts fetch a price of Rs 50 to Rs 60 at Mumbai, good quality tender coconuts from the state get diverted to Mumbai. At present, however, the city is getting good quality ones as demand from Mumbai is yet to pick up, the vendors say.