In 2016 - 2017, the price paid to farmers was 6-8 baht per nam hom coconut (0.15 to 0.21 Euros) during the high season and up to 15 baht (0.39 Euros) during the low production season. In fact, it was 8 baht at the end of 2017 (nuts brought by farmers to the factory), but in August 2018, the price reached 17 to 18 baht (at least), and factory trucks were coming to the fields to pick up the tendernuts.
Coconuts contains 320 ml of water in average, but this can be as low as 240 ml if appropriate fertilizers are not applied. So, the price paid to Thai farmers is about 1.4 Euros per litre of coconut water, while the same aromatic coconut water is sold for more than 10 Euros per litre on the USA market. On Amazon.com, 12 bottles of Harmless Harvest Organic Coconut Water, (5.7 litres), are sold for 148 Euros, so about 26 Euros per litre (viewed on 20 August 2018).
Most coconut plantations produce 140 to 240 tendernuts per palm per year. The return is said by local stakeholders to be about 1,000 Euros per hectare. When calculating based on 200 fruits per palm, 200 palms per hectare, and 10 baht per fruit (0.26 euros) per fruit, the gross income is up to 10,400 Euros per hectare – so the return may be much more than 1000 Euros per hectare.
Most plantations are organized with a canal system between the coconut lines. After harvest nuts are thrown into these channels, which are used for transportation. Organic waste (leaves, raffles) is also thrown into these channels. During the dry seasons, mud and organic matter are extracted from these channels, either manually or with a machine, and deposited at the foot of the coconut trees to serve as fertilizer. Additional fertilization is carried out with a mixture of rice straw and chicken droppings at a rate of 20 to 40 kg per tree per year.