Disease threat with coconut imports

(December 24, 2010) Sri Lankan agro scientists point out that the import of coconut from India may affect local coconut cultivation with new diseases.

Dr. K.P. Premarathna of Agriculture Faculty of Peradeniya University said to media that diseases might spread with the coconut imported from India.

Sources said that the Kerala state from where coconuts are imported to Sri Lanka had a large number of communicable coconut diseases.

The coconut cultivations of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka has been affected by a dangerous disease and the Coconut Development Board has already banned taking parts of coconut tree from the province to other areas.

The agricultural scientists say that the authorities had to consider this issue as well prior to importing coconut to bring down the prices.

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Posted in Coconut , coconut diseases , coconut imports

Coconut; once major export, now imported

(December 16, 2010) Sri Lanka government has decided to import cocnut to eradicate the shortage and the escalation of prices.

Sri Lanka Ministry of Consumer Affairs is now taking measures to import coconut, sources say.

The import is to be done by next week. The amounts of import is yet to be known.

The price of cocnut has risen sharply in Sri Lanka and a nut is sold atound Rs. 45 now. Coconut is a basic commodity of Sri Lankans that use the coconut juice in cooking curry.

Meanwhile, the Coconut Development Board has taken measures to purchase coconut from state tands and to sell them at fair price. Coconut Development Board trucks sell coconut at Rs. 30 per nut at selected places and one person is allowed to buy five nuts each.

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Posted in cocnut price , Coconut , Coconut Development Board , coconut imports