The Ministry of Plantation Industries is planning to implement a programme to distribute coconuts among the villages, which will result in reducing the price, Plantation Industries Minister Naveen Dissanayake said.

During a discussion at the ministry auditorium yesterday (28th Sept.), the minister said that there is a shortage of coconuts, but it is common in an open economy as we cannot fully control the prices.

“In 2015 and 2016 we experienced a drought and it reduced the harvest which has shot up the prices. Another reason is the middleman. According to our calculation, the middleman keeps about Rs. 30 per nut,” he said.

After discussions with the President and Prime Minister a cabinet paper will be forwarded to implement the programme of distributing coconuts in the villages.

The minister said that they expect the prices to reduce within the next two to three weeks.