World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lanka launches ambitious 250-village king coconut development programme
A new national initiative aims to establish 250 dedicated 'Ceylon King Coconut Villages' across Sri Lanka, targeting the expansion of cultivation and value-added production of the country's prized coconut variety.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Sri Lanka has unveiled a comprehensive programme to develop 250 specialized villages centred on the cultivation and processing of Ceylon King Coconuts, the island nation's distinctive coconut variety renowned for its distinctive taste and nutritional properties.
The initiative represents a strategic effort to boost agricultural productivity and economic development in coconut-growing regions while positioning Ceylon King Coconut as a premium product in domestic and international markets. The programme is expected to create employment opportunities across farming, processing, and distribution sectors in participating communities.
Each designated village under the scheme will focus on establishing integrated production systems, from cultivation through to value-added processing and marketing of coconut-based products. The initiative seeks to improve farmer incomes while standardizing quality and enhancing the market competitiveness of Ceylon King Coconut products.
The programme aligns with Sri Lanka's broader agricultural development strategy, which emphasizes leveraging the country's natural advantages in tropical crop production. Officials indicated that the project would receive support for infrastructure development, technical training, and market linkage activities to ensure the viability of participating villages.
The rollout of the 250-village initiative marks a significant commitment to transforming coconut-farming communities and strengthening the sector's contribution to rural livelihoods and the national economy.