Andhra District's Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations Highlight The Struggle Of Coconut Farmers

Ganesh Chaturthi, also referred to as Vinayak Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav, holds immense significance in Hindu culture as it honours Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This festival is celebrated throughout the nation. Devotees welcome clay idols of Lord Ganesha into their homes and pandals and engage in worship until the Visarjan ceremony.

In the Konaseema district, often referred to as the green heart of Telugu states, the village sarpanch, Madhunuri Srinivasaraju, a coconut farmer himself, perched atop a coconut tree. He decided to share the struggles of coconut farmers with Lord Ganapati. He requested Lord Ganapati to help the coconut farmers.

In recent times, the difficulties faced by coconut farmers have escalated notably. There is no government relief for coconut farmers, and the cost of coconuts is also very low. Additionally, coconut farmers are burdened with the expenses of bringing coconuts down from the trees and bearing transportation costs.

Sarpanch Madunur Srinivasaraj of Dindi village voiced his distress, underscoring that in the past, even a one-rupee drop in prices could be managed, but over the last few years, the coconut farming sector has experienced a steady decline in rates.

Over the past twelve months, coconut farmers in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have witnessed a substantial drop in the prices of raw coconuts and dried kernels, referred to as Copra. They contend that the support price for Copra does not even come close to covering their cultivation costs. In the last six months alone, dried kernel prices have nosedived by almost 40%, plunging the farming community into a dire situation marked by significant financial losses and mounting debts.

In light of the current situation, he has urged both the Central and State Governments to intervene and guarantee fair and equitable prices for coconut farmers. He stressed the urgency of government intervention to tackle and find solutions to their issues. Renowned for its perennial beauty, the Ambedkar Konaseema district is referred to as coconut groves. Many voices now resonate with the call for government support to aid coconut farmers facing these challenging times.