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by Kulanthaivelu Anbuchelvan

Palmyrah has been for a very long time a part of our traditional subsistence village economy. It has remained in that state for centuries. What is 'Kapruk' to the Sinhalese, 'Katpahataru' is to the Tamils. While 'Kapruk' is the mythical tree that gives all bounties 'Katpahataru' means the same thing and is attributed to the palmyrah palm.

Palmyrah supplied or supplemented the food needs, provided raw materials for simple handicrafts and cottage industries, food for cattle, firewood, housing materials etc. It is well known that every part of the palm which grew in varied soil conditions provides some use or other.

It was a sort of 'natural economy' in the sense that resources was available and people used it to satisfy their limited needs. Palmyrah, needless to state is totally an indigenous resource and therefore it provided the best opportunity for indigenisation of development. When development is centred around this sector in its multifaceted aspects we are making use of a resource that is available and under utilised in many respects with increased benefits to the people or the community largely dependent on this sector.

Through an optimum utilisation of this resource, we are also meeting many essential needs of the people, this should be the objective. Furthermore, self reliant development should also be equitable and lift the poor out of their economic and social backwardness.

We have the resource, we have to improve the capability and the skills of the people in developing this resource and through this we should be able to make an impact on the regions economy and society.

In adopting a self reliant strategy, the palmyrah industry provides us the best opportunity partly because the 'resource' cost in social terms is minimal, provided of course, we have a policy of systematic replanting and we should prevent the indiscriminate destruction of the palmyrah palms.

There are a number of areas to which special attention requires in a policy programme for the revitalisation and regeneration of this sector. Many of the palmyrah based food products require the assistance of food processing technology so that they made more tasty to suit the modern context.

Apart from food and drink alcoholic products, toddy, wine, arrack have the most impact in terms of income generation and employment even though the social consequences may not be desirable. In fact, the toddy tapping supports the livelihood of many thousands of people in the North and the East.

Next in line are jaggery and sugar and related products. They have great potential and can be commercialised provided the cost is reduced. Handicrafts have traditionally been associated with cottage industry. This provides supplementary incomes. Even timber products have a great potential.

Fibre too has great commercial potential. For this, institutional arrangements are important and we would make co-operatives more active in this sector. Palm products co-operative societies are producing jaggery, sugar and candy too. Even private industrialists too should be encouraged to enter in a significant way.

Self-reliance and self-reliant strategy should also work towards more equitable development. The palmyrah sector is largely associated with the backward and poorer section of the region's population. Therefore if we have the uppermost objective of lifting the poor, then it should also encompass other aspects of social change and social development such as education, health, housing and other facility.

In fact, palmyrah should be integrated with a community centered development programme. The Palmyrah Development Board is now brought under the Ministry of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs and the Honourable Minister Mr. Thiagarajah Maheswaran is taking every possible step to improve the palmyrah industry which is of paramount importance for the Tamil community and their economic and social development.

Indeed, everyone is extremely happy with the appointment of Mr. Ponniah Sivapatham as the chairman of the Palmyrah Development Board. Mr. Sivapatham is a resourceful person who has the foresight and vision. He is a personality who is determined to ameliorate the conditions of the poor and downtrodden. He is a highly disciplined personality combined with profound dedication and devotion to his duty.

He always takes a pragmatic and practical approach to problems faced by the community who are greatly involved in this industry. In fact, his aim is to improve this industry economically and the profits derived from this would be utilised for this particular community's children's education and various other development purposes.

The Thikkam Palmyrah arrack distillery in Vadamarachy, Chankani and Varany which have been neglected and not been properly used would be technically improved. Even the palm product Co-operative Development Societies will be brought under one wing to do a better service to the community. Mr. Sivapatham has lofty ideas and progressive policies to improve the palmyrah products to make it an export quality.

Besides, his intention is to have good storage facilities, machinery and other equipment for the development of this industry.

Mr. Sivapatham is not only concentrating in the Tamil areas but also wants to market the palmyrah products in the South to make people realise the importance of this industry.

The Honourable Minister T. Maheswaran who has the bubbling enthusiasm and unyielding determination to do what is right and beneficial to the community have given the Chairman of the Palmyrah Development Board Mr. Sivapatham's encouragement and strength to improve this industry at any cost with a view to providing employment to thousands of youths and to improve the quality of the standard of life of the Tamil community.

Realizing the importance of this palmyrah industry the chairman Mr. Sivapatham has taken all possible steps on this government's 100 days accelerated programme to open 'Katpaham' centre at Kataragama to market palmyrah products.

As a matter of fact, this product which was confined only to the North and the East will be taken to the South by the indefatigable chairman and it is the duty of everyone who is really interested in the development to support the dynamic chairman Mr. Sivapatham in all his future activities.

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