Coconut heritage declines

Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala, famously known as the land of coconuts, is slowly losing its coconut heritage as groves thin out and yields fall. Once a daily staple, coconuts and coconut oil have become expensive, with nuts selling over Rs 85 per kilo and oil nearing Rs 600 per litre, forcing many households to cut back or switch to alternative oils.

Rising global demand for coconuts, driven by the health benefits of lauric acid in coconut oil, has coincided with declining production in Kerala. Shrinking farmland, high real estate prices, crop diseases, and climate change have reduced yields. Coconut shells and coir pith are now valuable, yet supply still lags far behind demand, with neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh stepping in with higher-yield, better-managed farms.

Experts point out that Kerala’s traditional coconut farming is neglected. Trees are rarely scientifically manured, and skilled climbers, once crucial for harvesting and disease control, are scarce. Most plucking is now done by migrant labourers. Land for housing and commercial development continues to replace older trees, while younger generations plant very few new ones.

Previously, local traders procured coconuts and processed them into copra, but now farmers largely sell directly to mills, further reducing organized supply. As a result, coconut and coconut oil, central to Kerala kitchens and culture, are becoming luxury items. Consumers are forced to ration their use or blend with cheaper oils, signaling a gradual loss of a centuries-old culinary and cultural identity tied to the coconut.