Lanka nets Rs 3.2b on coconut exports in 1Q 2007

Sri Lanka exported 14,586.6 metric tons of coconut and coconut related products and earned Rs 3.2 bln in the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 42% compared to the corresponding period last year. Last year's first quarter export volume of 13,791.4 metric tons earned Rs 2.2bln.

According to the Ministry of Plantation Industries the government's action to stop the blocking of lands under 10 acres, control diseases which attack the coconut trees, distribute high yielding coconut saplings among coconut growers and provide growers with technology and fertiliser has helped to increase the crop and thereby exports.

The coconut is used as the second staple diet in the country. The annual production of coconuts in the country is 2,200 million nuts and of this 80% is consumed locally. According to statistics a Sri Lankan consumes 90 coconuts and five bottles of coconut oil annually.