Sun Jul 06 00:22:13 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
A sharp increase in coconut prices in Kerala, India, is impacting local businesses and households. The popular snack “Kozhukatta” has disappeared from budget hotel menus due to the unfeasibility of using expensive coconuts. Hotels are being forced to use alternative oils and reduce coconut consumption. Households are feeling the pinch as coconut and coconut oil are staple ingredients. The price surge is attributed to several factors, including decreased coconut production due to climate change, increased exports, rising demand for coconut products in international markets (particularly the US and Europe), and heightened demand for religious purposes in temples across India.
**News Article:**
**Coconut Prices Soar, Squeezing Kerala’s Budgets and Beloved Snacks**
KOCHI, July 6, 2025 – The humble coconut, a staple in Kerala’s cuisine and culture, has become a luxury item as prices skyrocket, impacting businesses and families across the state. The beloved snack “Kozhukatta,” a rice ball filled with coconut and jaggery, has vanished from the menus of budget hotels like Kudumbashree’s Janakeeya hotel in Vyttila, deemed too expensive to produce at the current price of over ₹80 per kilogram.
“Four coconuts are needed for making around 40 Kozhukattas,” explained Omana Ratnakaran, secretary of Janakeeya hotel. “As it proved unfeasible, we replaced it with ‘Pongappam’.”
The price surge is forcing businesses to make difficult choices. Restaurants are reducing coconut usage, switching to alternative oils, and facing customer dissatisfaction as traditional flavors are compromised. Households are also struggling, with coconut and coconut oil being essential ingredients in countless dishes.
Experts attribute the rising prices to a confluence of factors. M.G. Ramakrishnan, former president of the Varappetty Service Cooperative Bank, noted a 20-25% drop in coconut production linked to climate change. Increased demand from the United States and Europe for coconut oil and other products is driving exports. Additionally, a growing need for coconuts in temples throughout India is contributing to the price pressure, with truckloads of coconuts now being transported from southern regions to destinations as far away as Jammu and Kashmir.
The situation highlights the interconnectedness of local economies with global markets and the impact of environmental factors on everyday life. As coconut prices remain high, residents of Kerala are forced to adapt, potentially reshaping the culinary landscape and household budgets in the process.
First Piper 