February 17, 2025 | Daily Mirror |
Sri Lanka's domestic coconut market is facing rising prices due to supply-demand imbalances. To improve harvest efficiency, farmers need to adopt good agricultural practices such as proper plant spacing, sunlight exposure, intercropping, pest management, balanced nutrition, and efficient water use.
A healthy coconut tree can yield 100-120 coconuts annually with 60 liters of water daily, but only 30 percent of farmers use fertilizers and 10 percent provide sufficient water, leading to reduced yields of 40-60 coconuts per tree.
DIMO Agribusinesses is introducing advanced solutions to support coconut farmers, including high-quality seedlings, specialized fertilizers, soil analysis, and advisory services. To address irrigation challenges, it is promoting semi-automatic sub-surface drip irrigation systems in collaboration with Rivulis, offering water-soluble fertilizers that can be applied via micro-irrigation.
DIMO also provides consultation, plantation management services, and loan facilities for cost-conscious farmers to enhance productivity and maximize returns. Additionally, it is working on value-added coconut products such as virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut water to minimize waste and increase exports for foreign exchange earnings.
By integrating modern technology and financial support, DIMO aims to increase coconut yields, improve farmer profitability, and strengthen Sri Lanka's coconut industry.
