Better times ahead for coconut cultivation

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The scarcity of coconuts and its eventual high price in the market made us realise how all Sri Lankans are dependent on this simple natural product. Undoubtedly it is the staple base of the Sri Lankan cuisine and does play a major part in the export economy.

So far, the Sri Lankan coconut cultivation had its usual seasonal ups and downs in harvest. Yet the drop in harvest this season became a bit critical and steadily we are overcoming the crisis along thanks to Government intervention. Other than importing coconuts to serve the market demand and stabilize the prices the Government plans to take steps with short and long-term measures to increase the coconut harvest in the country thus upgrading the entire industry.

As a initial step the Government started giving fertiliser subsidy to coconut grower irrespective of the number of trees. According to the Government's decision even a person having one coconut tree is eligible to receive the subsidy confirmed by the Grama Niladhari, Samurdhi Officer or the Agriculture Research Assistant in the village. It is important to get the maximum out of the coconut cultivated lands in the island. And it is equally important to provide high quality coconut saplings to plant. Thus the Government is taking measures along with the related administration and research institutes to ensure high quality planting material.

"Though the cost is not so high we have noticed coconut growers are not properly fertilizing the trees. On the approval of President Mahinda Rajapaksa the government is giving the fertilizer subsidy even to a person owning one coconut tree is to ensure that people will fertilize the trees in order to increase the harvest," said Sarath Keerthirathne, Director of the Coconut Cultivation Board.

According to Keerthiratne one acre of coconut land needs to have 64 plants. With the available statistics coconut cultivations exist in nearly 100,000 acres of land. Out of the total only 20% are large scale.

"Sri Lanka does face a decrease in harvest during October - December and February/ March each year thus giving rise to coconut prices in the market," Keerthiratne explained. As he explained an average person consumes 106 coconuts per year. "Based on this if we can have a harvest of 3600 million nuts per year it is sufficient for the daily consumption and the manufacturing of value added product, such as desiccated coconuts," he explained.

Usually it takes 42 months for a coconut plant to flower for the first time if fertilized properly. "On an average it costs only around Rs.150 to fertilize one coconut tree," he further added. Normally a coconut tree over five years needs around four kilograms of fertilizer," he explained.

Government's new fertilizer subsidy scheme provides a 50 kilogram fertilizer bag for Rs.1000.

These special projects to increase the coconut harvest gets in to action with the coordination of the Ministries for Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development, Economic Development, Finance and Planning, Agrarian Services and Wildlife and Public Administration and Home affairs.

In a recently held event with the participation of Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara and Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena the fertilizer grants were handed over to several coconut cultivators.

Coconuts are not just for daily consumption. Scraped or dried when the coconuts are given a twist it is upgraded to a value added product. As the Coconut Development Authority Chairman Sugath Handunge explained Sri Lankan edible copra is second to none in the world market. "Coconut value added product industry has a high potential for a largely profitable venture if managed properly," Handunge explained. "Thus our aim, through implementing the Mahinda Chinthana is to expand and improve the coconut industry,"said Handunge.

Taking the first step the Coconut Development Authority opened an oil mill in Thiruweyar village in Kilinochchi in association with the Co-operative Society of the area. The mill was officially handed over to the public at a special event held last week presided by Minister Jagath Pushpakumara, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, CDA Chairman and several other Members of Parliament representing the area.

The machines have a capacity of producing 1.5 metric tons. "Our training officers carried out a special training program for 50 people in Oddusudan and they were given the raw material to start their business," Handunge said.

"We are planning to improve the oil industry in the Jaffna peninsula in the near future," he added. According to Handunge five oil mills are in the Jaffna district yet without improved technology.

During seasonal coconut scarcity the mills use neem, gingili, tamarind, bran seeds to produce oil. "With peace restored we clearly see the lifestyles of people in the North have changed a great deal and thus their food habits.

As a result we see an increased demand for coconut oil in the area so we need to take special measures to meet this demand," he added.

Two private sector companies have created a sophisticated oil extracting machine which is far more effective than the existing technology. The CDA will be installing these machines at the Punkunawa oil mill very soon.

"The non-traditional coconut products also has a great demand and we are looking to find new methods to lower the production cost so the manufacturer can export them at a competitive price," Handunge added.

According to him China has purchased 83,900 metric tons of mattress fibre in 2009 and the previous year it was around 52,112 metric tons. Sri Lankan edible copra, bristle fibre, twisted fibre, coir and activated charcoal are at an unbeatable position in the world market.

A special program titled Kapruka Diriya fertilizer subsidy was officially launched under the instructions of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the ministry informs.

The event was held at the BMICH last week headed by Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara, S.M. Chandrasena and officials of Economic Development and Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministries with the participation of officers of the CDA working at different areas of the country.

The officers were advised to give the fertiliser subsidy to the public with immediate effect.

Thus the future seems to be more optimistic. Very soon the coconut tree will be the kapruka for Sri Lanka playing a major part in financially strengthening the rural community.