A well-planned replanting program is urgently needed to mitigate the adverse impact of the shortfall of coconuts in the country which is threatening the survival of the industry, a crop scientist said.
He said the current crisis in the coconut industry could have been averted had there been a proper plan to support growers and boost the yield of the lucrative crop.
Senior Professor in Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture University of Peradeniya, Prof. Buddhi Marambe said financial support from the Government is paramount to increase coconut production to at least 4.5 billion annually from the current three billion nuts for which a continuous supply of high quality coconut seedlings is a pre-requisite to make the program a success. Coconut palms are considered to be productive for 60 years. However, according to Prof. Marambe about 15% of the palms are estimated to be beyond their economic life span, indicating lower productivity due to ageing.
He said increasing yield from such trees is impossible even if favourable management practices are carried out. “The coconut industry in Sri Lanka is in a crisis. The annual requirement of coconuts, based on the consumption needs and exports in the current context is estimated to be around three billion nuts. The monthly requirement is around 250 million nuts, including 150 million nuts for domestic consumption and 100 million nuts for export products,” Prof. Marambe said.
In 2022, coconut production in the country was 3.35 billion nuts which reduced to 2.95 billion in 2023, and then to 2.68 last year. This is a reduction of 260 million nuts compared to the forecast of the Coconut Research Institute (CRI). In December 2024 alone the reduction of nuts was 60% on a year-on-year basis.
The projected shortfall of coconut is about 200 million between January to April this year according to the CRI.
The export earnings from coconut-based products reached USD 836 million in 2021 and then declined to USD 708 million in 2023, but showed an impressive recovery to reach USD 856 million, an increase of 20% compared to 2023.
“The growth in coconut exports showed that a portion of the coconuts from what would have been used to meet the domestic requirement, out of a relatively lower production of 2.68 billion nuts, has been used for exports, creating a shortage of coconuts in the domestic market,” Prof. Marambe said.
The industry has made a request from the Government to consider importation of coconut kernels to be used by mills to make oil and other products targeting exports.
The import of full coconuts is prohibited by Regulation 14 and 15 of the Plant Protection Act No. 35 of 1999.
According to Prof. Marambe several other factors too would have contributed to the lower production of nuts. Weak fertiliser management, mainly due to the price of fertiliser that has shot up from Rs 1,500 to Rs 12,000 per 50 kg bag. According to available figures, less than 10% of the coconut palms in the country have been properly fertilised in the recent past. This can be rectified by applying fertiliser but the outcome will be seen only after 12 months. However, the Government and coconut growers should make every effort to ensure that the application of fertiliser takes place at the proper time to increase yield.
“Another major factor that affects the yield is the drought. For coconut plantations a rainfall less than 100m per month will produce severe moisture stress. Hence, appropriate water management practices such as drip irrigation is a good option to overcome the moisture stress issue,” the crop scientist said adding that pests such as coconut mites, white fly infestation and the toque macaque has a devastating impact on coconut plantations.
He said according to rough estimates, the damage caused by the toque macaque to coconut production in the Kegalle district is about 60% and 20% in the Hambantota district. The issue of wild animals on agriculture has been discussed and recommendations have been made over the past several decades. However, no effective action has been taken apart from efforts to repel the animals.
