Coconut yields to drop amidst 6-mth drought
Sri Lanka is expecting a severe drought this year and as a result the coconut yields are likely to go down further than what was experienced in 2024.
Though April is a high yielding month, this year however it is predicted that due to the drought the problems of the drop in nut production will continue into next year as well, Chamber of Coconut Industries President Jayantha Samarakoon told The Sunday Times Business.
He explained that a 6- month drought is expected to occur this year and as a result there is a likelihood that the yields will drop significantly; more so as a result of the lack of application of fertiliser by growers.
Fertiliser prices have increased to around Rs.9,000 – 10,000 levels and as a result the industry has been requesting the government to assist them with a subsidised fertiliser to help farmer cultivate their crops.
Mr. Samarakoon said the government is currently studying this proposal put forward by the industry to provide fertiliser to coconut growers at subsidised rates of around Rs.4000.
The drought experienced last year from February to March last year resulted in the drop in yields from December to February 2025 and in this respect a repeat is expected as the six month drought will have a further impact on the yields, he noted.
Meanwhile, based on industry requests the government has gone ahead and approved the import of coconut milk, coconut powder for the re-export market and coconut chips for the production of coconut oil for local consumption.
Approval has been granted by the cabinet for the import of the equivalent of 200 million coconuts for re-export and production of coconut oil for the Sri Lankan consumer.
Imports are being allowed for those with the ability of storing in bonded warehouses under the Temporary Import for Export Purposes (TIEP). Small traders can access stocks through the State Trading Corporation.
Commenting on the white fly disease, he said that this is reducing and being controlled due to the rains.
It was pointed out that the king coconut cultivation was also impacted adversely especially in Puttalam and Kurunegala areas and added to this the lack of fertiliser also led to the tree being unable to tolerate this disease.
From October to December there could be a shortage but the Coconut Research Institute has not yet predicted this. That shortage will be experienced most likely in the fourth quarter.
With 60 per cent of the requirement set to be yielded within the first six months only an estimated 1.4 billion nuts are likely to be plucked with the total amounting to around 2.4-2.6 billion by the end of this year.
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