Sri Lanka has launched a national programme to establish 250 King Coconut Villages by 2028 as part of efforts to increase production and expand international markets for king coconut-based products.
The Ceylon King Coconut Village programme was launched at the Mahayaya Estate of the Coconut Cultivation Board in Kurunegala in conjunction with International Coconut Day.
The programme is being implemented under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure.
Under the three-year plan, the government intends to establish:
- 75 villages in 2026
- 80 villages in 2027
- 95 villages in 2028
This would bring the planned total to 250 villages.
The programme is intended to increase king coconut cultivation while linking production more closely with processing and export markets.
Plans reported for the programme include new planting, rehabilitation of existing trees and development of small-scale processing capacity at village level.
More detailed programme projections include the planting of approximately 212,500 new seedlings, rehabilitation of around 221,500 existing trees, and establishment of a small processing facility for each village.
Around 21,250 farmers are expected to benefit under the programme.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen rural household incomes through employment and business opportunities associated with cultivation, collection, transport, processing and exports.
Government officials say increasing international demand for coconut-water-based products creates an opportunity for Sri Lanka to expand its share of the global market.
Programme projections include increasing annual king coconut production and export earnings in the coming years.
However, these production, income and export figures are programme targets and projections rather than results already achieved.
The immediate confirmed development is the launch of the three-year programme and its target of establishing 250 King Coconut Villages by 2028.
Its eventual economic impact will depend on implementation, farmer participation, production performance and access to international markets.