In partnership with the Coconut Cultivation Board of Sri Lanka
As part of the Nestlé Coconut Development Plan—the ‘Good Food Good Life’ company partnered with the Coconut Cultivation Board of Sri Lanka (CCB) to conduct a two-day training programme for coconut farmers. The training programme was initially launched in 2024. Building on its success, the second edition was introduced this year to further expand its reach and impact.
Conducted at CCB’s Coconut Development Training Center in Lunuwila, the programme trained 25 local coconut famers on the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices in their farms, benefiting the farmers in improving coconut yield whilst conserving natural resources such as soil and water.
Sharing his thoughts on the programme, Deputy General Manager of the Coconut Cultivation Board, Mr. Susantha Jayalath said “I am pleased to have partnered with Nestlé once again on this meaningful initiative to support local coconut farmers. By introducing regenerative agriculture into their practices, we’re not only helping uplift livelihoods but also contributing to a healthier, more sustainable ecosystem. At a time when the Sri Lankan coconut industry faces significant challenges, this training programme offers a much-needed platform for knowledge sharing -empowering farmers to improve their cultivation methods and adopt more sustainable approaches to farming”.
“Our long-running Coconut Development Plan stands as a strong testament to our commitment to advancing coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka. As the country’s largest exporter of Coconut Milk Powder, I take pride in extending this initiative to support the farmers who supply us with coconuts. When we launched the pilot training programme last year, our goal was to help farmers adopt regenerative agricultural practices – an important step in our broader ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This collaboration with the Coconut Cultivation Board marks a meaningful step forward. It not only promotes sustainable farming methods that benefit the environment but also helps unlock the full potential of this invaluable crop.” said Mr. Bernie Stefan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka.
Nestlé has operated in Sri Lanka for over 115 years. The company supports the livelihoods of more than 8,000 medium and large-scale coconut farmers through procurement, in addition to home-growers benefited through the Coconut Development Plan, contributing billions to the local coconut industry.
Photo caption: Coconut Farmers with Mr. Rohana Sarathchandra (Administration Manager, Coconut Cultivation Board – Training Centre) Mr. Kapila Hettiarachchi (Assistant General Manager, Coconut Cultivation Board – Training Centre), Mr. Ruwan Welikala (Director – Corporate Affairs & Communications – Nestle Lanka), Mr. Bernhard Stefan (Managing Director, Nestlé Lanka), Mr. Susantha Jayalath (Deputy General Manager – Coconut Cultivation Board), Mr. Rajith Perer (Head of Procurement – Nestle Lanka ) and Nestlé and CCB officials
