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Goa's coconut crisis | The hardest nut to crack

The coastal state does not have enough coconuts to feed its tourist boom—and itself

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PRAYING FOR FRUIT: Coconut trees along a road in Old Goa. (Photo: India Picture)

In the Goa of the mind, there exists a surplus of all good things—and every frame of leisure is fringed by a coconut palm or two. From a cool glass of sol kadi to fish curry to beach shack pina coladas, the sweet tinge of coconut milk tempers everything. In reality, though, Goa’s state tree is struggling to cope with the rigours of playing everybody’s favourite seaside Eden. Coconuts, of all things, are in crisis.

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