Farmers' Way To Counter Cola Culture - A CAAM report
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A novel programme to draw the attention of the people to the advantages of tender coconut and create awareness of the ill effects of aerated drinks sold by MNCs, has been organized by the coconut growers in Kalladaka of Dakshina Kannada District in coastal Karnataka, INDIA on December 9, 2000. It was called BONDA MELA. Bonda is a local name for tender coconut and mela means festival. This unique programme was organized by All India Coconut Growers’ Association, based in Mangalore. In Dakshina Kannada District, more than one-lakh tender coconuts are consumed every day. According to estimates, business of over Rs.10 crores is done annually in the district, despite stiff competition from companies selling soft drinks. Karnataka grows 1550 million coconuts per annum, of which 15% is being sold as tender coconuts, (Kerala-5 %, Tamilnadu 10%) according to Coconut Board. In Karnataka, Mandya district ranks top with 35% of its tender coconuts being sold. However, after the recent price collapse, sale of tender coconuts has nearly doubled in the state, according to some estimates. The coconut prices were crashed in recent days and a coconut would fetch less than 2 rupees for a farmer. The average price was Rs.3 to 5 in recent years. But tender coconuts have a prospective market, which farmers wanted to focus through the Bonda Mela. They could sell about 15,000 tender coconuts on Highway No.48 between Bangalore and Mangalore. The Mela had to be wound up before time because the tender coconut stock got exhausted by about 4 pm . Coconut Growers’ Assosiation will hold a similar fair at Brahmavar in Udupi Dt on December 13th. It intends to sell tender coconuts in college campuses, and many other centres of the districts-directly to consumers.

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