CDA to set up Business Facility Unit to expand coconut market globally

• Kicks off islandwide development programs to celebrate International Coconut Day
• ‘Coconut Development Week’ will see a series of programs connected with development, extension of coconut cultivation
• Newly developed coconut variety to be introduced, standard logo for high quality coconut oil
• CDA plans to launch ‘Coconut App’, incorporate coconut development and extension services

In a bid to celebrate International Coconut day today, Coconut Development Authority (CDA) will set up a Business Facility Unit at the Coconut Processing Research Division.

The CDA plans to expand Sri Lanka’s market for coconut-based products internationally with the new unit, a CDA statement said.

The authority will celebrate International Coconut Day today at the Lunuwila Coconut Research Institute (CRI) with the participation of Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and Coconut, Kithul, Palmyrah, and Rubber Cultivation and Promotion and Related Industrial Products Manufacturing and Export Diversification State Minister Arundika Fernando.

The CDA also plans to launch a ‘Coconut App’ — a mobile application that will incorporate the CDA and extension services.

In addition, a newly developed coconut variety is to be introduced, along with a standard logo for high quality coconut oil, and a repellent for red beetle species that invade coconut plantations.

Under the ‘Coconut Development Week’ project, in parallel to the International Coconut Day celebrations, the CDA has initiated a series of programs connected with the development and extension of coconut cultivation.

Simultaneously, a program to evaluate the highest foreign exchange earning exporters from a coconut-based manufacturing company in 2019 will also be held today, the CDA said. The program includes the planting of coconut saplings in premises of government institutions, temples and other places of worship, and coconut cultivation development programs for farmers, mobile coconut sapling marketing programs, farmer meetings and field programs.