Training for coconut plantation managers

Anjana Samarasinghe

TRAINING: The Ministry of Coconut Development will initiate a programme to train coconut plantation managers for coconut plantations in Sri Lanka.

Chairman of the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) Dr. D.B.T Wijerathne said most of the coconut plantation owners are in Colombo and many of them have no time for proper management of their plantations.

Under this programme, the ministry expects to train plantation managers specially on coconut plantation management and coconut growers could hire these managers to maintain their coconut plantations.

They have also planned to establish a dedicated unit at the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) for coconut based industries and growers to provide necessary information related to the industry.

Under this unit all the information of the stakeholders who are involved in the coconut industry will be recorded. These information will be provide to buyers seeking for suppliers on coconut based products.

These programmes initiated under a three year project is conducted by the Ministry to uplift coconut research and development and facilitating the technologies in the industry.

Dr. Wijerathne said research will be carried on increasing production in the drought seasons, improving soil conditions and coconut based foods.

This three year project will also focus on developing intercrops and expanding coconut cultivation in the coconut triangle. The complete project will be funded by a donor group and the main objective of the project is to develop infrastructure in the industry. Last year there was a production of 2.5 billion nuts and this year the Ministry expects 2.7 billion nuts.