The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna

¶ 01 Hon. Member, as I outlined, we are implementing water-supplied coconut cultivation and improvements. While we may not immediately reach India or Malaysia’s levels, CRI and the Coconut Development Authority are working with us. Our average of about 45 nuts per tree per year should be raised to 60–70 within five years via proper fertilization, moisture conservation, and water provision.

¶ 02 Replanting will not yield within our term, but we plant now to meet national demand. For short-term gains, we focus on fertilizer, moisture conservation, and water supply, and on reviving neglected large estates in Kurunegala, Puttalam, and elsewhere. We are engaging absentee owners, offering guidance, inputs, training, labor training, credit, and equipment support. Through our “Coconut Estate Rehabilitation Program,” we believe yields can rise within 1–2 years from existing trees and move toward the 4,200 million-nut goal. Detailed planning by tree counts and required tree numbers is underway.