Over 2,200 million coconuts required annually:

Islandwide Kapruka Purawara planned

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry has taken measures to increase coconut production and develop coconut related industries through the Kapruka Purawara programme, said Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara participating in a conference for those engaged in coconut related fields, held yesterday at the Foundation Institute.

"It is estimated that one million acres of land is being cultivated with coconuts at present and only 40 trees are cultivated per acre.

"It is necessary that we increase the amount of trees up to 64 per acre and also increase productivity by cultivating crops, such as, pepper, pineapple, mango", he said.

"We need 2,200 million coconuts for local consumption annually", he said.

The minister also said they hope to seek the support of the Education Ministry to increase coconut cultivation by using grade six children. The ministry plans to provide two coconut saplings to grade six children and encourage them to nurture these saplings by offering a scholarship. He said 150 Kapruka Purawaras will be established islandwide within five years. The ministry will train people to engage in coconut related industries to meet the market demand.

The Ministry will also promote coconut related tourism called coco tourism as presently there is a big demand for eco friendly tourism, he said.

Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardane, Heads of all institutions under the ministry, ministry officials, coconut related product producers and exporters were present.