As the scorching heatwave persists, the demand for green coconuts has surged, prompting steep price hikes as people seek relief from the sweltering temperatures.

The price of green coconuts has skyrocketed by Tk30 to Tk60 per piece, with small-sized coconuts fetching Tk100 each in the capital. Medium and large-sized coconuts are commanding prices ranging from Tk150 to Tk200 per piece, marking a record high.

Jusinur, a green coconut vendor in the Motijheel area, noted an unprecedented price surge in his five years in the business, even surpassing the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wholesaler Imbrahim Sarder attributed the price surge to a sudden spike in demand driven by the prevailing heatwave, which caused prices to surge at the wholesale market level.

Similar price hikes were observed in prominent areas such as Dhaka Medical College, Gulistan, Paltan, and Shahbagh, while wholesale markets like Karwan Bazar also reported inflated prices.

Surja Ali, a wholesaler, revealed that the price at the supply level has surged by Tk30 per piece over the past 10 days, with lots of 100 pieces fetching prices ranging from Tk12,000 to Tk14,000.

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) highlighted the steady increase in green coconut prices over the years, with the average price now exceeding Tk100 per piece.

The decline in coconut production, as indicated by data from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), has further exacerbated the situation. Coconut production fell to 510,360 tons in the fiscal year 2021-22 from 688,691 tons in FY 2016-17.

Dr. Mehedi Masood, project director of Year-Round Fruit Production for Nutrition Improvement under the DAE, attributed the sharp rise in coconut prices to inadequate cultivation efforts to meet the growing population's demand. He emphasized the need for increased coconut cultivation to stabilize prices amidst rising demand.