Major coconut cultivation planned in North and East

Minister of Coconut Development and Public Estates Development Jagath Pushpakumara says that steps have been taken to develop the coconut cultivation in the war-ravaged Northern and Eastern Provinces of the island.

The Minister said that the two provinces earlier contributed immensely to the coconut production but the war damaged the coconut trees.

The Minister said that plans are underway to increase the coconut cultivation by 500,000 acres this year and the government aims to increase the number of coconut trees by 3.2 million in the next four years.

The Minister further said that the country could reduce the import of palm oil from 85,607 metric tons in June 2011 to 39,147 metric tons in June this year through increase of production of coconut oil.

Minister Jagath Pushpakumara further said that no tax increase was imposed as proposed by some in this regard.