Coconut-Based Livestock Farming: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Food Security in Sri Lanka

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cultivation in Sri Lanka holds a significant position in the agricultural landscape of the country, contributing to the social, economic, and cultural lives of millions. Coconut-based livestock farming is an innovative and sustainable approach that combines coconut cultivation with livestock rearing to enhance food security and promote environmental sustainability. This chapter provides an overview of the potential benefits, challenges, and relevance of coconut-based livestock farming systems in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly in relation to food security in Sri Lanka. Coconut–livestock integration is a farming system that aims to establish a synergistic relationship between livestock and coconut by integrating them on the same land. This approach can be implemented in various forms, including agroforestry, silvopastoral systems, mixed crop–livestock systems, and integrated crop–livestock systems. The cultivation of forage crops in coconut plantations has been identified as a substantial agricultural endeavor, presenting opportunities for sustainable practices and livestock development. Fodder production and conservation on coconut land, particularly through silage, are explored as crucial components of coconut-based livestock farming. This chapter underscores the role of this integrated approach in achieving the SDGs related to poverty eradication, sustainable agriculture, responsible consumption, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation. Moreover, these systems play a key role in achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and its associated objectives, while also contributing to SDG 8, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 15, and SDG 17. The study concludes by highlighting the potential of coconut-based livestock farming to contribute to the SDGs and promote sustainable and inclusive agricultural practices in Sri Lanka.