Coconut industry under threat from pests: Dayasiri

• The CRI must take prompt action to control the pest outbreak
• Sri Lanka has earned US$ 836 million in 2021 by exporting coconut-based products. This is the third-biggest plantation product export earner after tea and rubber

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The General Secretary of the SLFP, Dayasiri Jayasekara sounded alarm bells yesterday when he disclosed that the coconut plantations in the country are under a major threat from two varieties of pests and if immediate remedial measures were not taken, there was a possibility that the coconut industry will be hit hard affecting one of the top foreign exchange earners to the country. 

Addressing the media at the party office former Minister Jayasekara who comes from a coconut triangle district of Kurunegala said the Silver Leaf Whitefly (SWF) and Greenhouse Whitefly (GWF) have already destroyed a vast extent of coconut plantations in the coconut triangle in the North-Western Province and spreading fast to other districts with coconut plantations like Colombo, Gampaha, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Kalutara and Galle. Sri Lanka has earned US$ 836 million in 2021 by exporting coconut-based products. This is the third-biggest plantation product export earner after tea and rubber. Sri Lanka expects US$ one billion this year from exporting coconut-based products. But millions of coconut trees have been severely affected, and the harvest of coconuts has come down drastically in the coconut triangle and other districts. That is why the price of coconuts has also gone up sharply, he said.

“The two pests, SWF and GWF have totally destroyed coconut plantations in Caribbean countries, the main coconut growers in the world. The Coconut Research Institute (CRI) must take prompt action to control the pest outbreak. If not, it will bring further blows to the economy and export earnings which Sri Lanka cannot afford”, Mr. Jayasekara stressed.

The pest SWF has already done big damage to the coconut plantations in Wennappuwa and Chilaw. 
With the onset of South – Western monsoon, the plague may spread to other parts of the country, threatening the entire coconut plantation sector. Therefore, the government must take immediate action to control the blight before it goes out of hand, he emphasised. 

Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana is doing his best to control the plague. He needs the support of all concerned as only through a concerted effort this threat can be avoided, Mr. Jayasekara said.