New laws to restrict coconut land sales

Tuesday, 28 June 2011 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Arrangements have been made to bring in new laws to restrict fragmentation and sale of coconut lands over five acres, said Minister of Coconut Development Jagath Pushpakumara, addressing a media conference last week.

The Minister said that this action had become necessary as a further move to increase coconut production in the country. The new laws are to be introduced in Parliament within the next four months.

Under the existing law, owners of coconut estates can sell coconut lands that are below 10 acres.

The Ministry has also made arrangements to increase planting of coconut saplings in the existing coconut lands to increase the number of coconut plants per acre to 64 as it has been found that in many coconut estates the number of trees are very far and few amounting to 40 trees.

The Minister said that steps have also been taken to encourage students to engage in coconut planting and in this regard Coconut Growing Student Committees will be formed throughout the island in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.