High yields from coconut this year

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The income from coconut and coconut products export has increased by 33 per cent compared to last year according to Coconut Development Authority.

The income from exports last year was Rs. 13,894 million and this year it has recorded an income of Rs. 18,500 million.

Assistant Director Marketing and Development (CDA), V. Balakrishnan said the conducive market environment and shortfall of production in other countries had been the main reasons for this positive situation. Increase of vegetable oil prices has also affected positively towards this.

The export of DC coconut production also has increased by 23 per cent compared to last year. The increase in coconut production was one factor contributed to this achievement. Coconut production last year was 2785 million nuts and this year up to now it has recorded as 2,900 million nuts, Balakrishnan said.

Meanwhile , income from DC exports recorded Rs. 2,796 million in 2006 and Rs. 4,795 million in 2007 which was an increase of 74 per cent. These quantities were exported to UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan respectively 8,673 Mt, 4,189 Mt, 2,508 Mt, 2,078 Mt.

There had been an encouraging increase of 49 per cent of fibre exports as well as a result of increased demand for natural fibre globally according to Balakrishnan.

He said that the future export market for coconut and coconut related products will be lucrative if the country could meet the increasing demand in the international market.

The Plantations Ministry has launched special programmes throughout the country to increase coconut production and to introduce new areas for coconut cultivation.