Government to reduce palm oil imports

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Government intends produce 150,000 metric tons of coconut oil this year to protect the industry and the industrialists. The Minister of Coconut Development Salinda Disanayake said that the local coconut oil industry and the manufacturers are facing many challenges and difficulties.

Measures will be taken to give a good price for coconut and protect the coconut cultivators. He said this at a function held at the Mahaweli Centre to launch the survey results of coconut oil in the local market.

The Minister pointed out that the production of coconut oil decreased rapidly as there was a huge drop in coconut harvest. In 2005 the production was only 20,000 metric tons and in 2006 it increased to 37,000 metric tons.

He hoped that the Government will be able to reduce the imports of palm oil with the intended increase of coconut oil production.

The survey results has revealed that coconut oil available in the local market is mixed with various oils and it is unhealthy.