Fungal disease hits coconut cultivation

by Ananda KANNANGARA

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The Coconut Development Board (CDB) on Friday ordered cultivators in the Southern Province to destroy over 750 coconut plants and trees following a major fungal disease which affected a large extent of coconut lands.The disease has been reported from Hambantota, Galle, Matara, Akmeemana, Habaraduwa, Tangalle and Beliatta areas.

Plantation Minister D.M. Jayaratna told the Sunday Observer that the Government has taken all possible measures to prevent the disease from spreading to other areas."Creating awareness of all coconut growers about the signs of the disease through CDB area officials and deploying adequate officers, specialised in the coconut cultivation process to districts where coconut is cultivated to the highest level are some of the measures taken by us to prevent the disease further," he said. Young coconuts falling and the tender leaves of trees withering are the main signs of the fungal disease.According to CDB statistics, nearly 7,000 coconut plants in the affected areas have already been tested by agricultural experts and it is reported that the disease has spread to nearly 600 other trees.

"However, we have already allocated nearly Rs. 180 million for testing and future experiments," the Minister said.