Govt. braces for coconut products imports

• High demand from local consumption and export industries key contributors to  shortage

By Huzefa Aliasger 

In order to avert a major coconut crisis in the coming  months, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil  Handunneththi and Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure  K. V. Samantha Vidyarathna will submit a joint cabinet paper next week  to urgently import coconut-related products which will be a substitute  for coconuts which are right now in severe shortage as well as relevant  authorities to conduct a study on conditions applicable for coconut  imports, an official said.  

Chairman of the Coconut Development Authority, Shantha  Ranathunga told the Daily Mirror that a donation of 55,000 tonnes of  fertilizers from Russia from which half is allocated to tea production  and half to coconut production is to be received to help with the  current crisis which will span across 300,000 acres of land.”  
According to the Plant Protection Ordinance, a law to make  better provisions against the introduction into Sri Lanka and against the  spread of diseases injurious to, or destructive of, plants, and for the  sanitation of plants in Sri Lanka, states “for prohibiting the landing  of plants from vessels or boats or aircraft either absolutely or  conditionally”.  

Mr. Ranathunga said that as a long-term measure the  Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Research Institute, Plant  Quarantine Board and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution will conduct a  joint study after cabinet approval on importing coconut under certain  conditions which do not harm the crop. An immediate solution to the  coconut crisis is to import coconut-related products like kernels,  coconut powder, and coconut milk. When contacted, the chairman confirmed that steps were  underway to seek approval to import coconut-related products which would  be available at a significantly lower cost than the current coconut  prices.   

The coconut crisis is attributed to high demand by both  local and export industries as well as wastage of coconut on consumption  and high prices of fertilizers. The CDA urges the public to minimise  wastage of coconuts when consumed locally.  

The government is also allocating fertilizers at half the  price to landowners who own less than five acres to promote the  production of coconuts.