The Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries has urged the government for permission to import 200 million coconuts with the next few months.
President of the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries Jayantha Samarakoon said that the major reason for the current coconut shortage is the spike in fertilizer prices.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the National Chamber of Commerce Auditorium yesterday (21), he mentioned that the coconut imports are essential at this time to counter a severe shortage that threatens both domestic supply and export revenue.
Samarakoon attributed the coconut shortfall to skyrocketing fertilizer prices, which have discouraged growers from adequately nourishing coconut crops. He warned that if coconut stocks needed for the coconut-based export industry are not imported immediately, Sri Lanka could lose approximately USD 1 billion in revenue.
He further highlighted that the country’s monthly coconut demand stands at 250 million nuts, of which 150 million are consumed domestically while 100 million are utilized by the industrial sector. However, production has failed to keep pace.
