Homegrown global leader in coconut shell-based activated carbon, Haycarb PLC, in partnership with the Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB), is expanding its coconut cultivation programme in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, supporting farming communities while strengthening the long-term resilience of the country’s coconut value chain.

As a member of the Hayleys Group, Haycarb's work with coconut farmers in Batticaloa and Ampara reflects the Group's broader commitment to long-term value creation that extends beyond its own supply chain into the economic wellbeing of the districts it operates in.

The initiative builds on a similar partnership Haycarb implemented with CCB in the Northern Province from 2023 to 2024, under which 100,000 seedlings were distributed with a survival rate of 80 to 85 percent.  Following the identification of suitable districts by CCB, Haycarb selected Batticaloa and Ampara for the Eastern Province expansion, targeting the distribution of 65,000 seedlings by the end of 2026.

Since 2025, the initiative has supported 784 farmers in Batticaloa and Ampara with 35,786 free coconut seedlings across 559 acres.

As coconut shell forms the primary raw material for Haycarb’s activated carbon production, strengthening coconut cultivation also supports the long-term resilience of the company’s raw material base. The initiative therefore connects farmer livelihoods and agricultural development with Haycarb’s broader approach to responsible sourcing and circularity.

Haycarb’s initiative forms part of a broader effort to address challenges facing coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka, including ageing plantations, low replanting rates, water scarcity, climate variability and human-wildlife interactions. These pressures are particularly relevant in parts of the Eastern Province, where farmers must manage environmental constraints alongside the practical challenges of establishing new cultivation. Field assessments under the programme combine farmer-reported conditions with district-level data to help inform and tailor the support provided.    Field engagement has also highlighted how farmers are adapting through locally appropriate practices, including moisture retention and soil improvement to support the establishment of young coconut palms.

Under the partnership, CCB regional offices identify eligible farmers through their coconut development officers, verify land ownership and readiness, and coordinate seedling transport and technical guidance on fertiliser, pest and irrigation management. Farmers receive CCB-certified coconut seedlings free of charge and take on responsibility for their upkeep, with the trees taking around five years to bear fruit and remaining productive for over 60 years.

The partnership reflects the role that collaboration between industry and public institutions can play in strengthening agricultural resilience, particularly in regions facing increasing environmental and resource pressures.

“Coconut farming supports thousands of rural livelihoods and is also fundamental to the renewable raw material base on which our industry is built. Our experience in the Northern Province showed us that providing quality planting material, together with the right technical support and continued engagement, can deliver meaningful long-term results.

In Batticaloa and Ampara, farmers are working in conditions shaped by water constraints, climate variability and wildlife pressures. Our partnership with the Coconut Cultivation Board allows us to combine institutional expertise with direct engagement at the farm level, helping farmers establish productive coconut cultivation while strengthening the resilience of the wider coconut value chain,” Haycarb PLC Managing Director Rajitha Kariyawasan said.

Farmers retain full ownership of their harvest and are free to sell to any buyer, with no supply agreement tied to Haycarb. Field visits to farms in the Eastern Province found that many farmers are growing vegetables and fruit alongside young coconut palms, providing an additional source of income while the coconut trees mature.

Haycarb PLC is a global manufacturer and supplier of coconut shell-based activated carbon, serving customers across water and air purification, gold recovery, food and beverage, industrial applications and energy storage. With manufacturing operations across multiple geographies, Haycarb builds on its strengths in technical excellence, innovation, customer centricity and sustainability to develop specialized carbon solutions for evolving global applications.

Photo - Haycarb PLC, Managing Director, Mr. Rajitha Kariyawasan

Farmers grow a variety of cash crops alongside coconut saplings, making productive use of the land while the palms mature. (Ammanthanaaveli Grama Niladhari Division, Batticaloa District, Eastern Province)