Devananda urges Kaithady Palmyrah Research Institute staff:

Make palmyrah-based food products suitable for infants, adults

The Palmyrah Research Institute should take action to make palmyrah- based food products suitable for infants as well as adults, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

Minister Douglas Devananda

Participating at the maiden meeting with the staff of Kaithady Palmyrah Research Institute, the minister said the vision of the Research Institute is to provide those engaged in the production of palmyrah-based food products the technology to produce palmyrah-based food products suitable for adults as well as infants in accordance with international standards.

Devananda said more than 70 percent of palmyrah seedlings were destroyed during the replanting process.

"Action should be taken to conduct a research for this not to occur in the future," he said.

The minister said the present variety of palmyrah palm grew very tall and took a long period for maturity.

"However, there were better varieties of Palmyrah palms in other parts of the world which grew to a lesser height with a better and quicker yield," he said.

The minister instructed officials to popularise these species of palmyrah palm in the country as well, and plant them along the A9 Highway.

Touching on the packaging of palmyrah-based food products, Devananda said it was necessary to take to tetra packs with enticing designs so that the food could be kept for a longer period without a change in quality while attracting consumers.

He instructed the authorities to obtain certification from the Sri Lanka Standards Institute for all food products.

The minister pointing out the responsibility on the Palmyrah Research Institute concerning food production said modern machines could be conveniently used in this process.

Devananda instructed Palmyrah Research Institute officials to explore the possibility of using the CASPER mixture in tapping the Palmyrah palm as well, which was a product of the Industrial Development Board used by kithul tappers to increase sap production.

He also instructed them to conduct a research to determine the possible effects of this mixture on palmyrah and kithul palms.

A research consultative committee to look into the development of palmyrah based products would also be appointed, Devananda said.

The minister said the Palmyrah Research Institute should work in conjunction with the Jaffna University as well as the Agriculture and Bio-technical Faculties of the Colombo University.

Palmyrah Development Board General Manager L Loganathan, Steve Wijendran of the Palmyrah Research Institute, Dr Balakumar of the Jaffna University, Jeyarani Nandakumar of the Faculty of Botany, Jaffna University and G Gokulanathan of the Palmyrah Research Institute also participated.