Sri Lanka coconut crisis: Shortages, soaring prices threaten staple food and exports
Mar 12, 2025 #SriLanka #SriLankaCoconutCrisis #SriLankaCoconutShortage
Coconut, a staple in Sri Lankan cooking, faces a severe shortage due to
Mar 12, 2025 #SriLanka #SriLankaCoconutCrisis #SriLankaCoconutShortage
Coconut, a staple in Sri Lankan cooking, faces a severe shortage due to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, fertiliser bans, economic crises, and land fragmentation. Despite producing 3.1 billion coconuts in 2023, a 1.3 billion shortfall has driven prices to record highs, forcing households to cut back. The industry, a key player in value-added exports, has urged the government to allow coconut imports to ease the crunch. While land sales and climate change worsen the crisis, new plantations in the North and South aim to offset losses. The sector remains resilient, innovating to maximise efficiency and maintain exports, but consumers hope for relief to keep enjoying their traditional dishes.
Coconut product exporters are urging the government to allow imports.
Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez reports from Colombo
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