Coconut production to be increased

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The Coconut Development Authority (CDA) has launched a program to increase coconut production and develop coconut related industries, said Chairman CDA, Sugath Handunge.

He said the small and medium sector coconut related industries will be developed under the program. The Ministry of Plantations has extended its fullest support to implement the project in line with the Mahinda Chintana development program.

Handunge said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was put an end to the war which was the biggest hurdle to develop the country.

The country is free to revive industries and reap the benefits of peace.

"The North and the East provide fertile land for cultivation which will be used to produce coconut oil and set up coir fibre industries", he said. Coconut is a garden crop which has multiple benefits for domestic use and exports. Coconut production in Sri Lanka is around 2800 million nuts a year.

The country requires around 3000 million nuts per year.

Around 70 percent of the produce is used for domestic consumption while the rest is exported as desiccated coconut, coconut oil and coir.

Handunge said there will be enough coconuts for domestic use and exports following the program launched by the Coconut Cultivation Board to expand cultivation and enhance production.

"The CDA appeals to those who have land to grow at least one or two coconut trees that will help save money for the family and produce for industries", the Chairman said.

The price of coconuts have shot up due to the shortage caused during the lean season from January to August.The lean season has not ended due to insufficient rain and less application of fertilizer.

Acting Director (Processing Development), CDA, S. Wasantha Liyanage said the Coco Timber Project to promote wood based products will be launched next month.

The project will be implemented in three stages.

The first stage will include accepting wood for high valued domestic furniture, ornamental products and locally developed roofing material for the local market while generating income for the wilt affected people.

Flooring material, coco tiles designed for Asia, America and European countries and setting up a processing centre for coco wood primary technology and skill development at Waharakgoda, Tanglle will take place under the second stage of the project.

The final stage of the project will include further developing the processing centre and profile for high quality engineered flooring products and defining appropriate grading standards, product specification and quality control system to optimise the use of potential of coco wood products.

Liyanage said a heat drying system to preserve coco wood will be introduced under the project.

He said that an importer of desiccated coconut from Vietnam had violated CDA regulations by blending the imported products with Sri Lankan desiccated coconut for exports.

"The CDA had instructed the miller that the imported DC should not be mixed or processed with locally produced DC", Liyanage said.

According to CDA investigations the importer has been mixing around 60 percent of Vietnam DC with around 40 percent of the local wet kernel.

The importer had requested to import 5,000 mt under the Temporary Importation for Export Processing (TIEP) scheme.

"The CDA had permitted the DC miller to import only 1,200 mt of desiccated coconut for a period of six months and the quantity imported a month should not exceed 200 mt under the TIEP scheme for value added exports", Liyanage said.