Coconut growers promote home garden coconut cultivation

Aimed at overcoming the growing demand for coconuts, the Coconut Growers Association (CGA) has taken the initiative to introduce coconut palm plants in home gardens, the association stated in a media release this week.

Due to adverse weather conditions as a result of the prolonged drought in 2016 and 2017 the agriculture sector faced a setback. Whilst the Government had taken an initiative to import rice to bridge the shortfall, the CGAn vehemently opposed all moves to import fresh coconuts as it could have an ill effect on the local industry since imported fresh coco- nuts may bring in diseases from foreign countries, the release said.

Therefore, a project was launched in Mabole to identify householders who could plant a special variety of coconut palm or two in their home gardens; and about 100 high quality dwarf x tall CRIC 65 coconut seedling were distributed to encourage the public to grow their own requirement of coconuts. The distribution of the coconut seedlings were carried out on March 3. Assistant Regional Manager from Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) Gampaha Region H.A. Sarathchandra addressing the gathering said the demand for fresh coconuts by the industry had gone up tremendously with factories for products such as desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut powder, coconut water, virgin coconut oil been established in the country. It should also be noted that in Sri Lanka per capita consumption is 110 coconuts per person (the world’s highest) and the country needs 240 million coconuts annually for domestic consumption. “It is therefore useful for householders to grow their own coconuts for home consumption as we do not expect the price of coconuts to come down in the near future,” he said.