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| Sunday, 10 February 2002 |
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Crash programme to revive drought - sapped c'nut industry by CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE Giving a push to coconut farmers, the Ministry of Plantation Industries has come to the rescue of the country's drought-sapped coconut industry. Last year's drought has depleted about 600,000 coconut trees and plants in the country, the local coconut industry is ailing with a loss of two billion (B) coconuts. Of the depleted number of coconut trees and plants, about 400,000 have been recorded from the Hambantota district, next to which 125,000 has been recorded from Puttalam, according to a recent estimate done into damages due to drought by the Coconut Cultivation Board. The market price of a nut has jumped to Rs.16 to 25, which was earlier around Rs.12. The Ministry of Plantation Industries is now waged in a programme to mobilise the industry by growing some 2 million (M) coconut plants throughout the country. The Minister of Plantation Industries, Lakshman Kiriella said : " action has been stepped up already to produce two million plants from quality rich seeds, which are now being raised from seedlings in nurseries of the Coconut Cultivation Board." " The seedlings will be distributed among farmers free of charge," he said. "It is expected to produce 300,000 plants under the Government's one hundred day programme, while 640,500 and 923,300 plants will be given among the farmers for Yala and Maha seasons respectively during the year," said the minister. Also, in keeping with the programme, the Coconut Cultivation Board has come up with proposals to liberate 1718 acres for new coconut cultivations, besides 2133 acres allocated for renewed cultivation. It will also promote domestic coconut farming with a distribution of 100,000 seedling during the year. Meanwhile, The Ministry of Plantation Industries, and the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, is importing coconut oil to relieve consumers against possible price hikes. |
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