In the next months, the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries has asked the government for authorization to import 200 million coconuts.
According to Jayantha Samarakoon, president of the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries, the current scarcity of coconuts is mostly caused by the increase in fertilizer costs.
He stated that the imports of coconuts are necessary right now to combat a serious scarcity that jeopardizes both local supply and export earnings at a media briefing yesterday (21), which was held at the National Chamber of Commerce Auditorium.
The coconut shortage, according to Samarakoon, is the result of producers being deterred from properly nurturing coconut plantations by the soaring costs of fertilizer. He cautioned that Sri Lanka would lose about USD 1 billion in revenue if coconut stocks required for the coconut-based export sector are not imported right away.
He went on to say that the nation’s monthly need for coconuts is 250 million nuts, of which 150 million are consumed domestically and 100 million are used by industry. But production has not been able to keep up.
Last year, Sri Lanka produced 2.68 billion coconuts, down from its prior average of 3 billion. Production is expected to drop to between 2.4 and 2.6 billion nuts this year, according to the Coconut Research Institute’s forecast. The issue would worsen if there is a 200 million coconut shortage between January and April 2025, according to the institute.
In order to make up the difference, the Chamber has suggested importing substitute coconut products including peeled coconuts, coconut milk, dried coconut kernels, or coconut kernels.
Furthermore, Samarakoon pointed out that a sharp rise in fertilizer prices, from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 12,000 per 50 kg bag, has caused growers to use less than 10% of fertilizer, which has made the production collapse much worse.
The Chamber is hopeful that the next budget would solve this issue and has asked the government to offer fertilizer at a subsidized price of Rs. 4,000 per bag.
In order to maintain coconut production, the Chamber also requested the government to implement subsidies for soil conservation and water delivery.