Lankans first when it comes to coconuts 

Explaining to Sri Lankans the importance of coconuts is like telling them the importance of clean air to help them breathe. Worse is telling them that they should not be wasteful in the manner in which they use coconuts in their homes. This is what the Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe attempted to do a few days ago while explaining the dollar value of coconuts and why the country should be looking at it more as an export commodity and not only as a local food source. 

Politicians making ridiculous statements is nothing new but no Sri Lankan will take lightly any attempt to touch the most indispensable item in their kitchen – the coconut, which along with their rice, is a must have.

Since the Deputy Minister’s comments became public, it has earned him ridicule as well as anger. This has led him to clarify his earlier remarks by saying he was attempting to explain the untapped economic potential of coconuts while acknowledging how integral ‘pol sambol’ and coconut-based curries are for locals but it’s unlikely that his initial comments will be easily forgotten by the coconut loving Lankans. While there is no argument that the coconut industry in the country needs to be improved, the public will take their pol sambol over any amount of dollars Abeysinghe hopes to earn by coconut exports.

In Sri Lanka coconuts are always in the news, be it due to surplus when prices drop or a shortage when prices increase. Lately, prices of coconuts have skyrocketed and it is a major topic of discussion as it affects the daily life of all citizens. Be it at home, a roadside kiosk or a five-star hotel, where there is Sri Lankan food, the coconut-based dishes/pol sambol takes is essential.

This link between coconuts and Sri Lanka goes back centuries and there are stone inscriptions to show that as far back as 160 BC, there were coconut palms growing along the southern coast. There is reference to the coconut palms in the Mahavamsa as well as ancient stone inscriptions with directives not to fell coconut palms.

In a book titled ‘Coconut – The price of palms’, Dr. D.V. Liyanage who once served as the Chairman of the Coconut Research Board and engaged in research and development in the coconut sector for over 50 years wrote that foreign travellers to ancient Sri Lanka including Romans, Chinese as well as the legendary traveller Marco Polo wrote on the important relationship been the local population and the coconut palm. That vital relationship continues to this day.

It is understandable that Deputy Minister Abeysinghe is keen to correct the many maladies affecting the coconut industry in the country and is keen to see an inflow of foreign exchange by turning it into a major cash crop but like with paddy, local interests have to come first.

Coconuts, like other agriculture products, are dependent on weather patterns, soil fertility as well as pest control. A lot of research has been done in this regard, and it would be best to take those into consideration when making plans to improve the coconut industry. Dr. Liyanage, in his book, identifies several reasons that have impeded efforts to increase coconut production. These include a large number of small holdings, soil infertility, loss of water retention capacity in the soil, and high cost of inputs. Except for the first factor, he writes that all the others can be improved by introducing suitable agronomic practices.

So, while we wish the Deputy Minister the best in his endeavours that can help the country realise the full production potential of coconuts, it is best he does not dispense any advice on how coconuts should be used by Lankans in their cuisine.