Govt. expects $ 5 b export earnings from plantation crops next year

• Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana optimistic coconut and rubber crops will individually exceed $ 1 b mark despite challenges
• Hopeful tea exports will reach $ 2 b mark by next year
• Stresses this is a Govt. that encourages cultivation
• Introduces dedicated contact details for inquiries regarding coconut cultivation and diseases

 The Government is hopeful that Sri Lanka’s export earnings from plantation crops will exceed $ 5 billion next year.

“Export earnings of plantation crops will be over $ 5 billion by next year. The Government has stepped up efforts to support plantation industries and the firms must now move on to value-added productions to expand the export basket and foreign exchange earnings,” Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said at an event held at the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) in Lunuwila recently. 

He said to reach a $ 5 billion target, it was important that companies engaged in export-oriented businesses add value to their products, rather than sending them in bulk form.

The objective of the Government is to promote coconut and related products for local consumption as well as to generate an export income. “Coconut exports have already recorded $ 700 million this year and we expect it will reach the $ 1 billion target by the end of this year. By the end of the next year, coconut should be made the highest earning export crop in the country,” he added. In 2020, coconut and related products exports recorded $ 600 million.

Dr. Pathirana said that new laws and regulations have been introduced to strengthen the coconut plantations. One of the latest initiatives is to introduce a dedicated number 1928 and a WhatsApp number +94 70 400 1928 for inquiries regarding coconut cultivation and diseases.

Also, coconut cultivation has been permitted in paddy fields that have been vacant for more than five years. “We have started a new method of producing coconut seedlings through tissue culture. This is the first time in the world that such a system has been implemented,” he said.

He also said that the Ministry has introduced a number of initiatives to increase export earnings from tea to $ 2 billion by next year, pointing out tea industry earnings have stagnated over the past few years around $ 1.3-1.5 billion per annum. 

The Minister is confident that the export earnings from rubber and related products will exceed $ 1 billion this year, amidst all the external and internal challenges the country faced, adding that it would be a remarkable achievement for the sector.

In addition, he said the spices and allied products particularly export earnings from cinnamon and pepper has doubled compared to previous years. “Last year, our revenue from cinnamon and pepper was $ 400 million, but this year we have already earned the $ 600 million,” he stressed.

“This is a Government that encourages cultivation. We are aware that some are engaged in this industry without any assistance from the State and we will address these gaps,” Dr. Pathirana said.

CRI Chairman Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma said they hope to make coconut and related products the leader in the export crop category. “At present, about 70% of the total coconut production in the country is allocated for domestic consumption and 30% of it is wasted, whilst another 10% is lost due to animal and pest hazards. By avoiding this waste, large quantities of coconut and allied products can be exported,” he explained.

Highlighting that the average annual harvest of a coconut tree is around 40-50 nuts, Dr. Alahapperuma said steps have already been taken to increase the crop.