By Yumiko PereraThe importation of dehydrated copra chips to produce coconut oil locally may be the solution to revive the struggling industry, according to State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, and Palmyrah Cultivation Promotion, and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification Arundika Fernando. According to State Minister Fernando, the country requires at least 39,000 MT of dehydrated copra chips to produce coconut oil locally. If we produce coconut oil locally, then we have more coconuts available to be used by the industries.”He reiterated that this could potentially help bring down the price of coconut oil in the future. According to State Minister Fernando, the country requires nearly 2.4 tonnes of coconut oil annually. As per the current practice, coconut oil is imported in the form of crude oil and refined and bleached deodorised oil (RBD oil), which has raised several concerns in the recent past, owing to carcinogens called aflatoxins being detected in the oil stocks that had been imported.

Source: The Nation July 31, 2021 20:15 UTC