Program to uplift Kitul industry

Shirley WIJESINGHE

Action has been taken to uplift the Kitul derivative product industry from rural level to a commercial scale under a special program, of the Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion Ministry.

Ministry Secretary, Nihal Somaweera said, new technology and marketing techniques will be introduced to the people who are engaged in the Kithul industry under this program.

"Initially, pilot projects covering Imbulpe, Passara, Hataraliyadda, Bulathsinhala, Tawalama and Madulla divisional secretariats had been launched to provide training facilities to those engaged in the Kitul industry, Somaweera said.

He stated that special treatment method called Kasper had been introduced to the stakeholders through the Agrarian Services Centres to increase the toddy harvest which is very essential for the Kitul industry. "Over Rs. 10,000 per month could be earned from a Kitul tree from the production of Kitul jaggery and Kitul treacle," Somaweera said.