Coimbatore, June 23 (IANS) Coconut farmers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts are facing mounting production costs as a severe shortage of labour has led to a sharp increase in wages for de-husking and harvesting coconuts.

The cost of de-husking coconuts has risen from ₹1 to ₹1.50 per nut over the past two months, marking a 50 per cent increase.

Farmers attribute the hike to an acute shortage of workers engaged in coconut-related farm activities. The labour crunch is believed to have worsened after many migrant workers who returned to their native places during the election period failed to return.

Farmers say a section of the workforce may have found alternative employment opportunities or settled elsewhere, reducing the availability of labour for agricultural operations.

The increase in de-husking charges has added to the financial burden on growers already coping with fluctuating market conditions and rising input costs.

Small and marginal farmers are particularly affected as they depend on hired labour for periodic farm operations and have limited bargaining power. Industry representatives warn that the higher labour costs are likely to translate into increased coconut prices in the market.

Traders who procure coconuts in bulk often have easier access to workers, while individual farmers and smaller growers are forced to pay higher rates to secure labour.

The labour shortage has also pushed up harvesting costs. Charges for climbing coconut trees and harvesting nuts have increased from around ₹2.25 to ₹3 per coconut in recent weeks. The number of skilled tree climbers has been steadily declining as older workers retire and younger generations show little interest in taking up the physically demanding occupation.

Experts note that mechanised solutions are available for certain farm operations, including coconut harvesting and de-husking. However, their adoption remains limited due to high investment costs and practical constraints, particularly for small-scale farmers.

Harvesting equipment is also less effective in plantations with very tall coconut trees.

The impact of the labour shortage is being felt beyond farms. Coconut husks are a key raw material for the coir and coir-pith industries, which depend on a steady supply from growers and traders.

Any disruption in the availability of husks or increase in processing costs could affect production in these sectors and impact rural livelihoods linked to coconut cultivation and allied industries.

With labour availability showing little sign of improvement, farmers fear that production costs may continue to rise in the coming months, further squeezing margins in one of Tamil Nadu’s important agricultural sectors.

–IANS

aal/rad