Collective effort underway to resolve SL’s coconut crisis

By Ifham Nizam

All stakeholders in the coconut industry, from ministries to supporting institutions, are uniting to address long-standing challenges and forge a sustainable, long-term plan.

“This historic collaboration comes at a critical moment, as the sector faces significant hurdles impacting both local and global markets, a senior official told The Island Financial Review.

He said that despite a projected capacity of 3,300 million nuts, only 2,600 million were produced last year, resulting in shortages that have disrupted local consumption and export activities.

The decline in production is attributed to the lack of fertilization, reliance on outdated agricultural practices and the misuse of fertile lands for non-coconut-related activities. These factors have collectively weakened the industry’s ability to meet the demand.

A key target of the new plan is to increase coconut production to 4,500 million nuts, a goal that requires modernizing farming techniques and optimizing land use.

In the short term, efforts will focus on enhancing the productivity of coconut usage and importing necessary raw material to support the export sector, ensuring stability and growth.

The stakeholders have proposed a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming the industry. This includes reducing waste, promoting public education on the versatile use of coconuts and increasing the value derived from every part of the coconut tree.

The coconut industry has the potential to significantly boost the economy. The government has set an ambitious goal of generating USD 1.5 billion in value-added coconut product exports within the next three years.

Speaking on the initiative, Deputy Industries Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe emphasized the importance of collective effort in revitalizing the industry:

“This collaboration marks a turning point for the coconut industry. By addressing current challenges and implementing a national strategy, we aim to unlock the full potential of our coconut resources. Together, we can ensure sustainable growth, support local communities and strengthen our position in the global market.”