Protecting coconuts

Thursday, 23 December 2010 00:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE Government has decided to place a ban on felling coconut trees, given the increasing prices and loss of production, especially in the festive season.

As Christmas and New Year looms closer, people are readying to empty their wallets at the altars of checkout counters at supermarkets and kadés countrywide. At a time when coconuts have become almost a luxury item, on the surface the Government’s move seems practical.

However, as always, the flipside of the coin remains local manufacturers, who are still struggling to sell their products at a good price and more often than not end up being fleeced by the middlemen. Moreover, artisans and other workers who gain their livelihoods from parts of the coconut tree are crying foul over the move, yet the Government stance remains unchanged.

In Government-owned plantations, each acre that should have 64 coconut trees only has half that number; production is not only low but of high cost. This results in massive wastage of resources and the result is that local producers are neglected while imports create a lopsided playing field. Ironically, the plants, technology and expertise that made private plantations internationally recognised successes have also been unable to do the same for Government plantations. One wonders at the difference.

Another point is, the world over palm oil cultivation is growing exponentially. A few decades ago, only 2% of the world grew palm oil and the popular crop was coconut; now the tide is changing, with coconut becoming rarer. Many countries such as the Philippines, which grew coconut, have now switched to oil palm, creating a demand in the global market for coconuts. With the development of coconut fibre industries, the outside of the coconut has become more precious and more plantations should be encouraged to engage in value additions in this regard.

The Coconut Development Board recently stated that there was a company willing to bottle ‘kurumba’ water for export. Given its taste and nutritional value, the concept was expected to be a hit, but it was shelved as young coconuts needed to be plucked from as many as 1,000 acres and neither the Government nor private estates had that level of resources. So a fantastic investment opportunity went begging.

Turning to domestic consumption, the threat of disease has resulted in 400,000 odd trees being culled in the Southern Province and many are worried that the threat will continue. They are concerned that the disease will reduce the number of coconuts released to the domestic market and as prices have shown, this is a valid concern. The current Government policy does not extend to these diseased trees and they will continue to be culled. The idea is that the preservation of trees in other parts of the island will offset this loss.

However, this is a point that price concessions need to be brought under a long-term plan if it is to be felt by the people. All stakeholders have to come together and outline a practical national strategy if Sri Lanka is to become secure in at least essential food items.