ECONOMYNEXT – Coconut production in Sri Lanka declined by 17.8 percent in September this year compared to September 2023, central bank data showed.
“Coconut production experienced a significant decline of 17.8% in September 2024,” the CBSL agriculture data bulletin for November stated.
Coconut prices in the domestic market have been steadily rising since October.
According to the Coconut Development Authority data, the wholesale price for a large nut was between 160-170 rupees and 130-140 rupees for small nuts on December 16.
A nut was retailing between 175 and 190 rupees at supermarkets.
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Sri Lanka coconut auction postponed for the second week due to lack of nuts
Coconut production in September 2023 was 3,170 million nuts.
For January to September 2023 it was 2,381 million nuts. There was 2,286 million nuts produced in the same period this year.
The Coconut Development Authority postponed the weekly auction for a second consecutive week due to a lack of nuts, its officials said.
However, exports in nuts have scaled up by 28 percent on year on year basis totaling up to 14,705 nuts exported during the period January to October.
Sri Lanka has generated 1971.98 million rupees in revenue through coconut exports.
Farmers have complained that there is severe crop damage from wild animals, particularly monkeys. Officials have also said climatic conditions are contributing to low yields. (Colombo/Dec17/2024)