Cabinet approves incentives to rehabilitate 85,000 acres of coconut land

Thursday, 13 August 2026 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Incentives will cover up to 65% of expenditure incurred on approved rehabilitation activities
Growers eligible for incentive of Rs. 700 per coconut tree for mulching coconut plantations using fertiliser and dolomite, Rs. 200 per coconut tree will be provided for mulching with dolomite and incentive of up to Rs. 50,000 per acre for supplying water to coconut lands

The Government has approved a special coconut land rehabilitation program aimed at increasing productivity, promoting sustainable cultivation, and strengthening the resilience of coconut plantations against El Niño conditions expected in the coming months.

The three-year program, which is scheduled to cover around 85,000 acres of coconut land by 2026, will focus on encouraging small-scale coconut growers to adopt improved cultivation and water management practices.

Under the scheme, incentives will be provided to small-scale coconut landowners with holdings of five acres or less. The incentives will cover up to 65% of the expenditure incurred on approved rehabilitation activities.

According to the Cabinet decision, growers will be eligible for an incentive of Rs. 700 per coconut tree for mulching coconut plantations using fertiliser and dolomite. A separate incentive of Rs. 200 per coconut tree will be provided for mulching with dolomite.

The program will also support improving water availability, with an incentive of up to Rs. 50,000 per acre for supplying water to coconut lands.

The initiative is intended to address the need to raise coconut productivity while encouraging cultivation practices that can better withstand adverse weather conditions.

The Government has identified rehabilitation of existing coconut lands as an important measure to meet growing domestic demand for coconuts, while protecting the country’s coconut cultivation base from the impact of climate-related conditions.

The incentives will specifically target smallholders in the Plantation and Community Infrastructure sector, with the Government expecting the financial support to encourage greater investment in the maintenance, rehabilitation, and sustainable management of coconut plantations.