ARE COCONUT HOME GARDENS PLAYING SIGNIFICANTROLE IN NATIONAL COCONUT PRODUCTION?AN ANALYSIS OF THE COCONUT SECTOR IN SRI LANKA

摘要

The contribution of coconuts to livelihoods and the economy of Sri Lanka is quite significant. Coconuts have contributed Rs. 108.9 Bn (US$ 609.77 Mn) in foreign exchange in 2019, which accounted for 1% of the GDP. This sector employs approximately 135,000 people in the production and industry sectors and provides livelihood for over 700,000 people.The coconut palm was once a major plantation crop in the humid tropics, including Sri Lanka, but is now mainly and widely cultivated by the smallholders. At least 96% of the total world coconut production comes from smallholdings. The total extent of coconut in Sri Lanka at present is 443,538 ha. According to census and statistics published by the Central Bank (2014), the smallholding sector in Sri Lanka occupies 83.7% of coconut cultivating lands signifying the important role played by the smallholdersector in national coconut production. The smallholding sector is defined as coconut holdings of size below 20 acres (8.1 hectares). This includes home gardens where coconut palms are scattered.