Sri Lanka is the world’s 4th largest coconut producer, with nearly two-thirds of production consumed locally.

Annual coconut production has declined from 3 billion to 2.6 billion due to weather, COVID-19, and policy changes, raising domestic prices.

Whitefly and other major pests are causing significant damage to coconut trees, leading to 4–5% short-term yield loss and up to 15–20% long-term losses, including tree deaths.

Coconut cultivation is labor-intensive, and the shortage of skilled labor limits productivity across the country’s 1 million acres of smallholder farms.

About 65% of coconuts are consumed locally, while the remainder is exported as coir, activated carbon, coconut milk, oil, and desiccated coconut.