The coconut shortage in the country will continue for another three months, says Saman Devage, chairman of the Coconut Cultivation Board.
He points out that this situation is due to the lack of proper application of fertilizers and chemicals to coconut cultivation, the damage caused by the white fly, and the increase in the production of dry coconuts for export.
The chairman further said that the productivity of coconuts has decreased by 50 percent and the annual production of coconuts is 3,000 million nuts, of which 60 to 70 percent is used for local consumption.
Meanwhile, coconut traders say that coconut prices will increase further during the upcoming Diwali festival.