Coconut based raw material imports to meet industry demand under study – Deputy Minister

Government has no plans to allow import of coconuts but will look at allowing coconut based raw material imports to meet the demand of the industrial sector, Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe said yesterday.

“This will ease the demand for coconuts for domestic use and for coconut oil resulting in stabilising prices of coconuts in the local market,” he said.

The Deputy Minster added that this issue was created due to drop is production and long-term steps would taken to increase production via replanting and increasing productivity.

The government will also offer fertiliser which was a burning issue specially for smallholders at a discounted rate or even via a grant scheme.

Abeysinghe also said that tough laws would be introduced to stop using coconut lands for real estate projects.

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