CCCI calls for urgent Govt. action on local coconut crisis
- 5opn1
- January 22, 2025
- Political
- CCCI calls for urgent Govt. action on local coconut crisis
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The Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries (CCCI) yesterday called for immediate Government intervention to address an unprecedented coconut shortage threatening both domestic consumption and the export potential of the industry.
Shedding light on the key challenges inhibiting adequate coconut production, CCCI President Jayantha B. Samarakoon highlighted escalating fertiliser costs, pest infestations, land fragmentation due to real-estate projects, and climate change as limits to cultivation
In the recent past, coconut fertilisers became a luxury to ordinary farmers, priced between 8,000-14,000 per 50 kg. In addition, the extreme temperatures experienced during the first three months of 2024, exacerbated the ongoing coconut shortage, alongside the rising population of toque macaques.
Prior to 2023, Sri Lanka’s annual coconut production typically ranged between 3000-4000 million nuts. However, this figure sharply dipped to 2,950 million in 2023 and further declined to 2,684 million in 2024.
