Kalpitiya, the hub of dry fish industry

By Ananda Kannangara after a tour of Kalpitiya

Producing dry fish

Our journey to Kalpitiya in the North-Western Province last week was very strenuous, but memorable as it gave us an opportunity to see the livelihood of dry fish manufacturers. Kalpitiya has been famous for dry fish manufacturing even from as far back as the 1600s.

Our history reveals that not only ancient kings, but rulers during the colonial period of Dutch, Portuguese and British had encouraged fisher folk in Kalpitiya to carry out their traditional industry.

Kalpitiya was an island in ancient times. It was separated from the main Island Ceylon. The island was located over 210 kilometres from Colombo. Among 24 other islands surrounded by the sea, Kalpitiya was considered as the biggest island with over 1,500 families. The population exceeds 20,000.

Battalan Gunduwa is the second largest island and it is located nearly thirty kilometres away from the main island Sri Lanka.

The other large islands in the Kalpitiya District are Rodhapaduwa, Mohottuwarana and Keeramundilam. In addition, the North- Western Province has over twenty other small islands.

Bridge

Kalpitiya island was connected with the main island of Ceylon during the Dutch period by a bridge. The objective of this amalgamation was to help fisher families, dry fish manufacturers and the agricultural farmer community to sell their goods. The Kalpitiya bridge is long. Even the Coal power plant at Norochcholai is also located in the district.

If anybody thinks that the lives of dry fish manufacturers in Kalpitiya are miserable, it is incorrect.

They are very happy with their day-to-day business activities and upbeat about their vocation. Although, everybody is aware that Kalpitiya has a very dry climate due to the intense hot sun, people are engaged in their usual line of business without considering the hot weather.

But, people who are engaged in fishing, dry fish manufacturing and various other small-scale industries are grappling with a new challenge in the form of price hike in kerosene and diesel.

The Sunday Observer last week had a rare opportunity of visiting the country’s famous dry fish manufacturing zone in Kalpitiya. The name of Kalpitiya is renowned among old people in the country, especially businessmen for its dry fish. Although, people who are living in the districts of Mannar, Batticaloa and Trincomalee are engaged in the dry fish industry, Kalpitiya has become the hub of the dry fish trade in the country.

Manufacturing

A long-standing businessman in Panayadi, M. Nawaratnam said Kalpitiya was popular for the dry fish manufacturing industry, while the surrounding districts including Panayadi, Norochcholai, and Narakkalli were famed for agriculture and animal husbandry.

He said although people are engaged in these industries with great interest they do face lots of day-to-day problems.

They have many grievances. The recent price hike on kerosene oil and diesel have affected many people, especially fishermen in the area.

According to Navaratnam, over 1,500 families are living in Kalpitiya and almost all people are engaged in the fishing and the dry fish making industry. The industry has now become a self-employment project in the area.

Samath Riyoon of Rodhapaduwa island said traders from all parts of the country visit Kalpitiya fishing Wadis daily as there is a great demand for Kalpitiya dry fish than other kinds of dry fish that are produced by fishing wadis in Mannar and Trincomalee.

“Some of the main items,produced by Kalpitiya fishing wadis are katta, bala, keeramin, prawns and anguluwa and traders even from distant areas such as Badulla, Moneragala, Kandy and Jaffna come to Kalpitiya fishing villages regularly to buy our products”.

Fishing

A resident of Toradiya, P. Thasween requested the authorities for some relief to overcome the challenge posed by the rising cost of fuel worldwide. Many fishermen have been affected by the costs.

He said despite appeals by their Fishing societies the authorities are yet to address the issue.He wanted a fuel subsidy on unlimited basis, since some boats need lots of kerosene to go for fishing at least three to four times a day.

He also urged authorities to make a proper dry fish distributing program throughout the country from Kalpitiya.

A fishing boat owner, 30-year old Azath Mohamed said the authorities should give kerosene to fishing boat owners at reduced prices to ensure that there will not be a drop in dry fish production.

He said there are nearly 500 multi-day fishing vessels and about 300 one-day fishing vessels in the Kalpitiya main fishing village.

A resident of Keeramundilam, Asrun Kamal said the authorities seemed unaware of the grievances faced by fishermen in the Kalpitiya area and requested them to visit Kalpitiya regularly and meet the fisherfolk.

Distribution

He wished the Government would commence a dry fish distribution program through Sathosa outlets and the countrywide Co-operative shops, so that the manufacturers could sell their products at reasonable prices. A father of four children R. Samuel said former President R. Premadasa had visited Kalpitiya two times and discussed with people about their grievances and helped them through Divisional Secretaries.

A 46-year old fisherman, R. Ahamath, a resident of Nacchipalliya proposed the authorities to grant bank loans for fisher families in Kalpitiya, to enable them to construct new houses and to purchase fishing nets as most fishermen are using old nets.

He said the authorities should also construct another hospital to Kalpitiya as the present hospital cannot provide adequate facilities to the increasing population in the area.

Children

A father of two children, Dinesh Kumar in Kalpitiya village proposed the Education Department to establish another school to the area as the existing school cannot provide adequate facilities.

He said many children in Kalpitiya have not seen even a computer and requested the authorities to introduce the computer system to their children.

A resident of Nacchipalliya, Navadan Perumal said there are about 50 very poor fisher families in Nachchipalliya area and they are living in cadjan thatched houses and requested authorities to construct permanent houses for them.

He said some of them came to Kalpitiya during the conflict period and have been living in these small houses for the past 35 years. K. Ruwanstha (58), said the recent price hike on fuel has hit the ice manufacturing industry and requested the authorities to grant a fuel subsidy for ice manufacturers like they grant fuel subsidy for fishing trawlers. A dry fish businessman, Niyas Grero said traders from Colombo and other main cities regularly visit their fishing wadiya in Kalpitiya to buy their products at cheap prices since the manufacturers do not have enough storage facilities to keep their products.

He therefore requested the Government to start a suitable dry fish distribution system, so that they could sell their products at reasonable prices.