Nearly 300,000 coconut trees have been felled in the Matara District due to disease, Coconut Cultivation Board Regional Manager E. Leelananda said.
The owners of the felled trees have been compensated at the rate of Rs.3,000 per tree, bringing the total to Rs.26 million, he said. The disease is fairly under control at present, Leelananda added.
According to him, the disease has mainly spread in the Weligama, Devinuwera, Welipitiya, and Dickwella Divisional Secretariat Divisions of the district, he said.
However, a considerable reduction in such cases has been seen in the Thihagoda, Malimbada, Kamburupitiya, Akuressa, and Hakmana areas, the Regional Manager added.
The felling of diseased trees has helped prevent the disease from spreading faster. Furthermore, the Coconut Cultivation Board has initiated a project to grow more coconut trees to compensate for the ones that were felled, Leelananda said. The transportation of coconut-related materials has also been suspended in the Matara District due to the issue, he added.
Awareness programmes on coconut cultivation using modern methods are also underway in the district, with focus being drawn to proper fertilization and the prevention of diseases. The Coconut Cultivation Board has also urged farmers to inform them of any early symptoms of disease on their trees, Leelananda said.
