The Ministry of Plantation Industries has commenced a massive scale coconut cultivation programme in the North which has been liberated after 30 years. Although the North is blessed with appropriate geographical advantages for coconut cultivation, the LTTE was a major threat, the Plantation Industries Ministry said.

Plantation Industries Minister D.M.Jayaratne told The Island that the Ministry had already formulated a plan to cultivate coconut in the North and the programme would begin following the resettlement of all internally displaced people. Before the programme, all the required infrastructure facilities for coconut cultivation would be provided to make the programme a complete success.

He pointed out that according to the climatic conditions of the North different varieties of coconut cultivation would be introduced and effective awareness programmes on proper coconut cultivation processes would be given to cultivators. The Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) had already commenced coconut cultivation projects on the coastal areas of Mannar and the CCB had distributed 5 coconut seedlings to small-scale land owners. Steps would be taken to distribute more coconut seedlings to large-scale land owners in the Mannar district shortly.

Minister Jayaratne added that the Ministry had also focused on cultivating coconut in Killinochchi and Mullaitive districts as soon as the infrastructure facilities were provided as these districts were found to be ideal for coconut cultivation. For the distribution of coconut seedlings among cultivators, the Ministry would set up coconut nurseries which would be capable of supplying required seedlings to cultivators.

He said that for the benefit of coconut cultivators, the Ministry had taken steps to supply coconut fertilizer to cultivators at moderate prices and expertise on proper coconut cultivation methods to cultivators would also be provided. The principal objectives of the new project would be to expand coconut cultivation in the North. To augment the income generation of people and to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed in the North.