IN MEMORIAM: DR. D. VINCENT LIYANAGE
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Hugh Harries
May 1, 2012, 2:25:39 AM5/1/12
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Extract from COCOMMUNITY, VOL. XLII NO. 5, 1 May 2012
IN MEMORIAM: DR. D. VINCENT LIYANAGE
No other person in the recent past would have contributed so much to increase the production and productivity from coconut lands as Dr. D.V. Liyanage who passed away few days back at the mature age of ninety one years, of which more than fifty years was spent on conducting research and development. It was not only Sri Lanka that benefitted from his expertise but also a number of other Asian countries. Among them were Indonesia, Maldives and Tonga.
In Sri Lanka, he was responsible for the development of the two new strains CRIC 60 and CRIC 65 suitable for small holder and estate sectors. That was in the early sixties of the last century. A survey conducted in 1999 found the estimated nut production of CRIC to be 7500 nuts per ha and 11200 for CRIC 65 where as the national production still averages around 6000 per ha, indicating the success of Dr. Liyange’s initiative.
In Indonesia he was tasked to implement an accelerated breeding programme to produce improved coconut strains and mass production of seed to be used in the national coconut development programmes. Dr. Liyanage’s initiative resulted in the production of three improved strains named Khina -1, Khina2 and Khina3.
Dr. Liyanage being aware that coconut is a small holder crop, was also very much concerned about the improvement of small holdings through sustainable agriculture and low cost technology. He advocated bio farming which could reduce the cost on application of artificial fertilizer, increase production, maintain soil fertility and reduce cost of production of nuts.
He worked very closely with the international agencies involved with coconut industry and was a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization. He contributed
regularly to APCC journals and participated actively in APCC deliberations. In recognition of his contributions to the APCC, Dr. Liyanage was among those who were honored with the “Tree of Life” Award when it was first introduced in 1999 at its Ministerial Session in Federated States of Micronesia.
In a publication authored by him and published by the APCC, referring to his work in coconut breeding he said “These are memories of the past. The joy of producing new coconut varieties lingers on“.
Even after his death there will be others who will relish those memories and Dr. Liyanage would continue to stand tall among his peers for many more years to come.
(Dr. P.G. Punchihewa, Former APCC Executive Director)
COCOMMUNITY, VOL. XLII NO. 5, 1 May 2012
IN MEMORIAM: DR. D. VINCENT LIYANAGE
No other person in the recent past would have contributed so much to increase the production and productivity from coconut lands as Dr. D.V. Liyanage who passed away few days back at the mature age of ninety one years, of which more than fifty years was spent on conducting research and development. It was not only Sri Lanka that benefitted from his expertise but also a number of other Asian countries. Among them were Indonesia, Maldives and Tonga.
In Sri Lanka, he was responsible for the development of the two new strains CRIC 60 and CRIC 65 suitable for small holder and estate sectors. That was in the early sixties of the last century. A survey conducted in 1999 found the estimated nut production of CRIC to be 7500 nuts per ha and 11200 for CRIC 65 where as the national production still averages around 6000 per ha, indicating the success of Dr. Liyange’s initiative.
In Indonesia he was tasked to implement an accelerated breeding programme to produce improved coconut strains and mass production of seed to be used in the national coconut development programmes. Dr. Liyanage’s initiative resulted in the production of three improved strains named Khina -1, Khina2 and Khina3.
Dr. Liyanage being aware that coconut is a small holder crop, was also very much concerned about the improvement of small holdings through sustainable agriculture and low cost technology. He advocated bio farming which could reduce the cost on application of artificial fertilizer, increase production, maintain soil fertility and reduce cost of production of nuts.
He worked very closely with the international agencies involved with coconut industry and was a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization. He contributed
regularly to APCC journals and participated actively in APCC deliberations. In recognition of his contributions to the APCC, Dr. Liyanage was among those who were honored with the “Tree of Life” Award when it was first introduced in 1999 at its Ministerial Session in Federated States of Micronesia.
In a publication authored by him and published by the APCC, referring to his work in coconut breeding he said “These are memories of the past. The joy of producing new coconut varieties lingers on“.
Even after his death there will be others who will relish those memories and Dr. Liyanage would continue to stand tall among his peers for many more years to come.
(Dr. P.G. Punchihewa, Former APCC Executive Director)
COCOMMUNITY, VOL. XLII NO. 5, 1 May 2012
Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri
May 3, 2012, 4:19:53 AM5/3/12
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| I have fond memories of my association with Dr. Liyanage during my visits to Srilanka. He was an adorable host. He has done a commendable job as far as coconut research and development are concerned. Only recently I was talking about this great researcher friend to some of the delegates from Srilanka who had come to chennai to attend the Rheo+20 conference.. My heartfelt condolences. K.U.K.Nampoothiri |
|
Hengky Novarianto
May 14, 2012, 8:58:13 AM5/14/12
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Dear Dr.D.V.Liyanage family in Sri Lanka,
I'm one of the coconut breeder from Indonesian Palm Research Institute (IPRI) Manado, Indonesia. But when I started work in my institute I known and ever met with Dr.D.V.Liyanage several time, when he visited to Manado from Bogor, West Java. I know very well that Dr.Liyanage give us the strong base of our coconut breeding research in Indonesia, and we can produced our coconut hybrids, KHINA-1, 2 and 3. He has positive contributed to coconut research, not only in Indonesia, but also in the world.
On behalf of my self, family, my institute, and my country, we very deep sad, and pray to GOD,
so
that his soul may be accepted in heaven.Regards,
Hengky Novarianto
IPRI
Manado
Indonesia
From: Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri <unampo...@yahoo.com>
To: coc...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 1:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Coconut:5063] IN MEMORIAM: DR. D. VINCENT LIYANAGE
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