- CRI Chair Prof. Ajith Jayaweera said that due to problems faced by competitors, the demand for SL coconuts has increased in turn creating a supply-demand gap
While the coconut industry is experiencing a production shortage, the country will be importing coconuts to address this gap. Amidst these challenges, The Daily Morning spoke with Coconut Research Institute (CRI) Chairperson Prof. Ajith Jayaweera, to explore the ongoing issues in the sector.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
What are the primary challenges currently facing coconut cultivation, and how are they impacting the industry?
The main challenge that we are experiencing right now is the limited supply of coconuts. Annually, we require 3,000 million coconuts for various purposes. However, in recent years, production has fluctuated significantly from year to year. Of the 3,000 million coconuts, around 1,800 million are used for domestic consumption. The remainder is processed, exported, or used for other commercial purposes.
Due to problems faced by competitors, the demand for Sri Lankan coconuts has increased, resulting in more coconuts being used to meet that demand, creating a gap between the supply and demand. This has led to a shortage of coconuts for domestic consumption. It's crucial to note that the production figures for 2023 were 3,168 million, while 2022, and 2021 were 3,391, and 3,119 million coconuts, respectively, which are more than sufficient for domestic needs.
Various factors have contributed to this issue, including environmental impacts, a shortage of fertilisers, inadequate care, pests, and other external influences. Pests, particularly insects, severely affect cultivation. While we've observed slight changes in harvests over the past five to six years, our scientists have not identified any specific cycles associated with coconut trees. These fluctuations could be linked to climate and environmental factors like water availability and temperature.
How is climate change, adverse weather, and other environmental factors affecting coconut cultivation, and what are the resulting impacts?
We can’t ignore the impact of climate change on coconut cultivation. Environmental factors such as temperature, moisture, and light are crucial for coconut development. Unfortunately, we don’t regularly irrigate coconut plants, which affects the soil's moisture levels. Additionally, temperature is essential for coconut growth; high temperatures can hinder proper development. Drought conditions can lead to the premature dropping of budding coconuts. Hence, changes in rainfall patterns and droughts can directly affect coconut yields.
The absence of proper irrigation systems exacerbates these issues. For instance, a large-scale coconut cultivation site in Pimburattewa, managed by the Coconut Growers Association under the Mahaweli Development Programme, successfully yields between 50 to 80 coconuts from a single tree due to good irrigation and proper fertilisation.
What are the CRI's observations regarding the use of fertilisers and agrochemicals in coconut cultivation, and are there any concerns about their long-term effects?
Fertiliser usage has significantly decreased over the past few years, impacting both State-owned and CRI-managed lands. For instance, in recent years, we have not applied fertilisers for almost a year. This decline in fertiliser application is mainly due to rising prices and reduced coconut production. Without proper fertilisation, healthy trees start to taper off, directly contributing to lower harvests. In 2015, we applied 56,297 Metric Tonnes (MT) of fertilisers, but, in 2022, this figure plummeted to 7,956 MT. Although there has been a slight increase in 2023, it is still not satisfactory. The distribution of coconut plants has also decreased over time. If this trend continues, production will decline even further, which poses a significant long-term risk.
What are the impacts of pests and other external factors on coconut cultivation, and what is the scale of crop damage in the industry?
The CRI does not have precise data on the extent of crop damage. However, it is estimated that overall coconut production has decreased by 30%, with 7% of this reduction attributed to pests and diseases. The whitefly is a major concern and has been observed in countries like the Philippines and India before being identified in Sri Lanka in other crops.
Additionally, two other pests – the red palm weevil and the black beetle – have also emerged. The black beetle affects coconut trees from their early stages by damaging the bud, making chemical control difficult. Observing the cultivation closely is the most effective way to manage this pest, with certain farmers achieving over a 90% success rate using these methods. The CRI has introduced nets to protect trees from the black beetle, which has proven successful. The red palm weevil affects mature trees and is tricky to identify at the early stages.
While the chemical Monocrotophos has been effective against this pest, it is no longer manufactured. We have been sourcing this chemical through private companies for the past two years, but alternatives are scarce. Regular inspection by farmers is crucial for pest control.
Furthermore, excessive chemical use can harm natural predators that help manage these pests. Current control methods yield only around 20% effectiveness. Even India has struggled to combat this pest. The CRI is actively collaborating with universities to develop new management techniques, which have shown promise in countries like Malaysia. However, many existing remedies are time-consuming, underscoring the importance of diligent cultivation management.
How does land fragmentation, a growing concern in Sri Lankan agriculture, impact the coconut sector, and what are the associated challenges?
Land fragmentation affects many crops in Sri Lanka, and it is also a significant issue for coconuts. We distribute over one million coconut plants each year, yet, we only plant between 1.3 to 1.5 million annually. Despite this, our coconut cultivation numbers have stagnated at 1 million for the last 20 years. After 2009, coconut cultivation has primarily shifted to the Northern regions of the island. Even with these efforts, we remain at the same cultivation level due to routine tree removal. We are supposed to cultivate around 20,000 acres of coconut annually, but, increasing land fragmentation has hampered this goal. We believe that the relevant authorities should either impose regulations or provide alternatives to address this commonly faced issue across various crops.
Can you describe how the CRI engages with coconut landowners to address the issues affecting the sector and promote coconut cultivation?
The CRI collaborates closely with the Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB). We encourage landowners to reach out to us regarding issues related to coconut cultivation. The CCB employs coconut development officers who work directly with both large- and medium-scale farmers. We provide these stakeholders with necessary knowledge and methodologies. While we strive to enhance our engagement with coconut farmers, there is currently a lack of coordination between the officers and the farmers, which can lead to errors in decision-making. Therefore, establishing proper coordination among stakeholders is vital.
How does the CRI provide data and predictions to support the coconut industry's decision-making and planning processes?
We continuously conduct forecasting efforts each year, usually providing predictions six months in advance. Our surveys take place in at least 200 locations across intermediate, wet, and dry zones, allowing us to measure the number of buds on each coconut tree. We then share our predictions with stakeholders. We have a 97% accuracy rate in our six-month forecasts. Regarding the recent shortage, our predictions had no errors; the issue arose from increased export orders when we initially had sufficient coconut stock.
However, unforeseen production declines led exporters to propose importing coconuts to address the resulting deficit, a situation that our forecasts had anticipated. Additionally, we provide the Government with estimations of the coconut fertiliser requirements.
What is the CRI’s opinion regarding the decision to import coconuts?
Coconut exporters suggested importing coconuts, but the CRI didn’t support this idea due to concerns raised about potential safety risks. Importing coconuts could lead to new diseases entering Sri Lanka, which warrants careful consideration regarding the entire industry's safety. For this reason, we didn’t approve the importation of coconuts.
In the past, we have permitted the importation of oil palm, as well as coconut flesh and cream, due to their low risk in terms of pathology. However, we have not allowed the importation of whole coconuts because of the associated risks. Although we have approved the imports of coconut chips, which are used to produce oil and are mixed with local products, this does not add value, and we have concerns about this practice.
What are the CRI's opinions regarding the nutritional impact of coconuts, and how are these findings communicated to the public to dispel myths and misconceptions?
The CRI does not conduct research specifically on the nutritional value of coconuts. However, we do investigate aspects such as cholesterol levels in certain coconut products at the provincial level. We have proposed conducting research on aflatoxin levels in domestically-produced coconut oil, as we believe that aflatoxins can easily develop within copra. While we do research nutritional aspects, we don’t engage in clinical or medical studies. Recent research indicates that certain fats, like margarine, may be more harmful than coconut oil. We share such findings through bulletins and work closely with the relevant institutions to raise awareness about the benefits of coconuts.
Are there plans to incorporate the coconut industry into the concept of agroforestry in Sri Lanka, and what benefits or challenges are associated with this approach?
We are actively researching the concept of agroforestry related to coconut cultivation. This approach allows farmers to grow smaller plants and cover crops in the early stages of coconut cultivation, and as the trees mature, additional crops such as coffee can be introduced.
The benefits of this concept are substantial; it enables effective land use while generating extra income and reducing pest pressures through the maintenance of cover crops and improved irrigation practices. It offers a significant opportunity for those involved in coconut farming, and we at the CRI actively support it. There have been periods when such initiatives received funding and encouragement from various parties.
The benefits of agroforestry outweigh those of monoculture farming, so, the CRI consistently advocates for the adoption of these practices.