USAID, CBL Release Handbook to Improve Coconut Farming Practices in Sri Lanka

CBL Global Foods Limited (CBL GFL), a subsidiary of the CBL Group, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) this week released a practical handbook to improve coconut farming practices in Sri Lanka, reports the Daily Mirror Online.
Supported by USAID’s CATALYZE Private Sector Development (PSD) Activity, the handbook is aimed at helping coconut farmers learn advanced farming techniques and meet the country’s demand of 4,500 million coconuts annually. The handbook will be initially distributed to 250 small- and medium-scale farmers in selected districts. Available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, the initiative aims to eventually reach over 1 million coconut producers across the country. 
Currently, the country produces only 3,000 million coconuts each year, falling short in catering both its domestic consumption and export potential as coconut farmers face critical challenges in cultivation such as low yields, water stress and pest issues. In response to these challenges, the handbook provides practical solutions by focusing on 4 key areas, including water management, nutrient balancing, pest control and climate adaptation, the report said.