Plan to cultivate 45,000 king coconut plants in 86 villages

The Coconut Cultivation Board has prepared a programme to expand king coconut cultivation countrywide.

Accordingly, 86 villages have been selected suitable for king coconut cultivation. These villages have been selected after examining the suitableness for king coconut production.

A huge demand for king coconut in our country has been created in the international market and Sri Lanka has the monopoly on king coconut in the international market. The reason for this is that the taste and quality of king coconut in Sri Lanka is very high.

Also, although many countries have tried to grow king coconut, they have not been able to get the quality of king coconut in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the demand for king coconut in the country is increasing daily.

A discussion on popularising king coconut cultivation as a crop was held by Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. Officers of Coconut Cultivation Board and Coconut Development Authority as well as Coconut Research Institute also participated in the event.

Eighty six villages were selected and it was decided to plant 45,000 king coconut plants in those villages.The Minister advised that if someone wants to grow more acres of king coconut in one village even though they are selected as villages, then steps should be taken to provide the necessary facilities for that.

Under this, king coconut seedlings and technical knowledge as well as advice will be provided free.

Villages in Moneragala (3), Matara (1), Kurunegala (8), Kuliapitiya (9), Kegalle (8),Gampaha (9), Kalutara (10), Maravila (9), Ratnapura (4), Hambantota (8), Anuradhapura (2), Trincomalee (2), Polonnaruwa (2), Ampara (2), Matale (4), Galle (8), Batticaloa (2), Jaffna (3), Kandy (4) are among the 86 villages that have been selected.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the demand for king coconut in the country has also increased due to the dry weather these days and the prices have also increased.

But by achieving export and starting these crops, the farmers can get more income and are also advised to carry out new technical research to introduce king coconut juice in the market as a value added product.

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