Boon for kitul industry

The traditional rural industries based on the Kitul (Caryota urens) tree is to receive a boon as the industry is going to get greater State assistance for the expansion of Kitul based products and resolving the problems hampering the industry.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

The Minister pointed out that the Kitul industry which has received comparatively lower attention will get more attention as his ministry is planning to set up a different secretariat for the development of Kitul based industries.

It will be later developed into a Kitul Development Board like the Plamyrah Development Board.

Minister Devananda said that Rs.19 million has been allocated for the Kitul industry for the next year compared to the Rs.9 million allocated in the previous year.

He said there is a greater potential for the expansion of the industry as only 15 per cent of the Kitul trees out of 3 million trees are used for industrial purposes.Apart from toddy, jiggery and treacle the Kitul tree also can be used for furniture and leaves for handicrafts”, the Minister added after meeting representatives from the Kitul industry.

He said steps have been taken to provide pension for 14,000 toddy tappers under Social Securities Board. Apart from that steps have also been taken to provide safety kits for toddy tappers and also the chemical called caspery needed for the industry.

- RW