Rising world demand for local king coconuts spurs model export village concept

By Ifham Nizam

With king coconut exports up by 117 percent in 2023, the agriculture and plantation industry has formulated a proposal to establish a model village for the cultivation of king coconuts for export next year.

Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera recently said in view of the rapidly rising demand for Sri Lankan king coconut in the international market, he had discussed with the officers of the Coconut Development Board, Sri Lanka Coconut Research Institute and Coconut Development Authority, the measures to be taken in the future for the development of coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka and the progress made in that regard so far.

Amaraweera said that though king coconut has not been cultivated as a plantation crop to date, there is a high demand in the international market for the coconut species grown in this country.

Amaraweera added: ‘In 2022, 11 million king coconuts were exported and an income of Rs. 110 million was earned. The amount of king coconuts that has been exported so far this year is 14 million and the income earned from it is Rs. 140 million.

‘Also, the amount of king coconuts exported this year has increased by 117 percent.

‘I have instructed the relevant departments to conduct a soil test and identify a suitable area for king coconut cultivation and to name the specified area King Coconut Cultivation Export Model Village.

‘At present, we have not identified a variety of king coconut suitable for cultivation in our country and the traditionally cultivated king coconut species are still being grown.

‘I have instructed the Sri Lanka Coconut Research Institute to start a research project to introduce a new species of king coconut that has a good taste and attractiveness and bears fruit in a short period of time.’