Kerala Cong seeks higher price for coco

New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) Kerala Congress today demanded higher price for coco and increased import tariffs to protect domestic farmers and to meet the growing domestic demand.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, party member Francis George demanded that the current price of Rs 20 per kg of coco beans be doubled and tariff on imports from Ghana and Ivory Coast hiked to protect farmers interest, particularly in Kerala which produces 80 per cent of the crop.

He said consumption of coco was growing at 15 per cent in the country but production was increasing by only two per cent and, therefore, it was essential that the farmers were paid Rs 40 per kg to produce more to meet the domestic demand.

Coco is also produced in parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

UNI