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There is also a Proposal to establish a Model Village for King-coconut export cultivation in the next year.
The demand for King-coconuts of this country in the international market is increasing rapidly. Accordingly, Sri Lanka Coconut Development Authority stated that the export of king-coconuts grown in this country has increased by 117 percent in 2023 at present.
Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries has discussed with the officers of the Coconut Development Board, Sri Lanka Coconut Research Institute and Coconut Development Authority yesterday afternoon (31) about the measures to be taken in the future for the development of coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka and the progress made so far.
Although it has not been cultivated as a plantation crop so far, there is a high demand in the international market for the king-coconuts grown in this country. In 2022, 11 million king-coconuts were exported and an income of 110 million rupees was earned.
Also, the amount of king-coconuts exported so far this year is 14 million. The income earned from it is 140 million rupees.
Also, the amount of king-coconuts exported this year has increased by 117 percent.
King-coconut has not yet become popular in our country as a cultivation. Therefore, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has advised the officers of Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Research Institute and Coconut Development Board to conduct a soil test and identify a suitable area for king-coconut cultivation and name that area as a king-coconut export model village and start a program to popularize king-coconut cultivation in the next year.
At present, we have not identified a variety of king-coconut suitable for cultivation in our country and the traditionally cultivated king-coconut species are still being cultivated. However, the Minister has also instructed the Sri Lanka Coconut Research Institute to start research to introduce a new species of king-coconut that has high taste and attractiveness as well as short fruiting.
