Fluctuating prices and unpredictable weather are creating challenges for coconut farmers at Valelawa in Dreketi.
Farmer Dipika Prakash said copra prices tend to rise during the dry season when the supply of coconuts drops.
“There are fewer coconuts because they don’t fall as much, so demand pushes the prices up,” she said.
However, during the rainy season, Ms Prakash said, the opposite happens.
She said these price changes are seasonal and hard to predict, making it difficult for farmers to plan or invest with confidence.
“Weather conditions have made matters worse. During floods, coconuts get washed away. Even tall trees are falling because they’ve become weak with age.”
Ms Prakash said flooding, cyclones and strong winds have taken a toll on her family’s coconut plantation.
“Most of our trees are more than 50 years old and were planted by my grandfather.
“Many of these older trees are now falling over during storms, and about 50 to 60 of them have already been damaged.”
Ms Prakash said the family started replanting new coconut trees to recover from the losses, however, she added it would take years before they see any returns.
Efforts to get a response from the acting Agriculture Minister Alitia Bainivalu have been unsuccessful.
