Steps to recuperate coconut industry to meet the heavy demand

Anjana Samarasinghe

COCONUT: The coconut oil production in Sri Lanka has dropped drastically and the present quantity that is manufactured has failed to meet the consumption ratio.

Sri Lankans consume 150,000 - 200,000 metric tonnes of coconut oil for domestic use and industrial purposes per year and only a quantity of 25,000 metric tonnes of coconut oil is being manufactured annually in Sri Lanka which is barely sufficient to meet the demand.

Assistant Director (Processing and Development division) of Coconut Development Authority (CDA) P. Edirimanna said that there are nearly 60 large scale oil mills and nearly 400 small and medium scale mills in Sri Lanka but only 25 oil mills are commercially active at present.

Remedial measures have been taken to overcome short supply. CDA has launched a program to uplift the coconut oil industry. “Our main objective is to reopen these mills and increase the coconut oil production, Edirimanna said.

CDA expects to provide financial assistance for purchasing machinery and bank loans enabling the millers to reopen the mills. CDA will also bear 10% of the interest for loans obtained by industrialists through the banks.

Chairman of the CDA D.J.U. Purasinghe said that as an initial step CDA will provide financial assistance for 15 coconut oil industrialists this month.

Sri Lanka is importing a large quantity of oil each year to meet the heavy demand in the local market. Some oil importers mix 10% of coconut oil with the imported oil before sending them to the local market. However CDA has taken steps to prevent adulteration of coconut oil in the market.