Drive to promote coconut cultivation

Ridma Dissanayake

The Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry in collaboration with the Coconut Development Board and other institutions will plant around 32 million coconut saplings by 2016, said Minister Jagath Pushpakumara.

Around 344,000 coconut trees with leaf wilt disease have been identified and around 75,000 trees have been destroyed. The minister was addressing a press briefing at the Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry recently.

According to the minister, the government has paid around Rs 161 million as compensation to coconut planters affected by the disease.

Coconut saplings will be provided to the public willing to start coconut plantations. Minister Pushpakumara also launched the ministry's new website.