Northern toddy tappers clamour for recognition

By Naalir Jamaldeen

Tapping toddy is considered a low status job in the society. It should be developed as a cottage industry to help underprivileged families who depend on it, Acting General Manager of Pandatherippu Palm Development Co-operative Society Selvadurai Reji said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

He said that the authorities have imposed restrictions to purchase sweet toddy at a stipulated price of Rs. 30 a bottle. The price is decided by the Assistant Commissioner of Co-operative Department at the monthly meeting.

He said that the Palmyrah Development Board (PMB) supports selected members on production basis. Members who function well are assisted. We have not received assistance this year to improve the production capacity.

"The PMB is not extending any assistance to the society. The Palmyrah Research Institute which functions under the PDB ascertains the quality of our products. Eventhough we made several appeals to the PDB to sell our products through their outlets we received no response so far. We had Rs. 5 million worth palmyrah treacle.

We underwent immense difficulties to sell the product", Reji said.

"We function under the Excise Department and have to obtain approval from the Excise Department every year.

The authorities consider palmyra toddy as arrack. But it is liquid consisting of yeast which has no adverse effects as arrack", he said.

When the PDB General Manager M.B. Loganathan was asked with regard to the problems of Pandatherippu Palm Development Co-operative Society he said that the PDB gives priority to sweet toddy production.

More attention has been paid to the development of the Pandatherippu Society. The other societies in the district are neglected.

"The PDB provides vessels and equipment to those who produce palmyrah jaggery, treacle and sugar and candy", he said. Equipment are provided to only registered producers.

"At a time when palmyrah products are available in the market at a low price, the Pandatherippu Society sells products at a higher price and as a result it is unable to market its products. The Society must reduce the price of sweet toddy when purchasing from the members. If not they can't sustain the market", Loganathan said.

When Loganathan was asked about the benefits of Palmyrah toddy he said that it has various medical benefits.. It consists of Vitamin B.

He said that toddy is a health beverage with many good effects.It helps cool the system and it is believed a medicine for Chickenpox.

When Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM) Director Dr. M. W. S. J. Kumari said that toddy should not be considered a drink to be intoxicated but rather a health drink. However there should be a limit to the quantity one consumes.

She said that Ayurvedic syrups also consists of alcohol but it is added to medicine and preserved. Only 30 millilitres of alcohol is added to produce ayurvedic syrups.

"Blood pressure will reduce. It is considered a medicine for diabetic if taken in proper doses", Dr. Kumari said.

She said that toddy is also a good appetizer. Dr. Kumari said that palmyra toddy has five percent alcohol. One who consumes toddy could shift to arrack which is harmful to health.

She said that eventhough toddy is a health beverage it could be harmful if taken regularly.

Meanwhile Acting General Manager of Pandatherippu Palm Development Co-operative Society Selvadurai Reji said that UNDP has provided us locally produced machineries. We hope to get modern machineries to increase the production.

Toddy production is the main livelihood of the members of the Society. The Government has imposed many taxes on toddy production. The Society should pay Rs. 10 per litre of toddy to the Excise Department.

"We have appealed to the authorities to reduce the tax to five rupees. The Government considering this as a livelihood mode should reduce the taxes. If the tax is slashed to five rupees a large number of members will benefit, he said.When Superintendent and spokesman of the Excise Department Prabath Jayawickrama said that a nominal tax of Rs. 10 is imposed per litre of toddy. We cannot reduce the tax.

"The government has imposed only Rs. 10 per litre of toddy. Our aim is to reduce the production of alcoholic products. We also hope to reduce alcohol consumption in the country.

We have planned to increase the taxes on alcohol, he said.

"The members of society were trained by CEDA through the UNDP. We have a Cooperative Training College. They conduct training programs", Reji said.Toddy tapping is a livelihood of many people in the North. It should be made a recognized profession.

The former government failed to recognise it as livelihood mode. "Our Society was set up to improve the living standards of families who depend on this industry. We help market the products of the members", he said. Reji said that members should be given a reasonable price for their products. The society depends on the products of members.

"We have been given a target of producing 1,300 kilos of Palmyra sugar worth Rs. 650,000 per month", Reji said. "We undergo financial problems to improve the industry.

If the authorities extended assistance the members and their family members will benefit", he said. "The Society produces palmyrah jaggery (Blocks shape,egg shape and Kuddan), Palmyrah jaggery,

Palmyrah treacle, sugar candy, pulukkodiyal, pulukkodiyal flour, odiyal, odiyal flour, Panattu and Pani Panattut", he said. "We purchase sweet toddy from members through the at Pandharippu, Thillalai, Ilavalai, Mathagal, Samayapuram and Pilan", he said.

"UNDP has set up a palmyrah sugar production centre. Sweet toddy will be brought to Samayapuram from other five branches. We produce palmyrah treacle using the sweet toddy. When required we will produce Palmyrah jaggery using the treacle", he said.

Scholarships are given to children of our Society members. We also give scholarships to the students who passed the GCE (O/L) and GCE (A/L) examinations. Every year we give these scholarships to the schooling children of the Society."Eventhough we come under the cooperative sector we have not been given increments so far. Our basic salary is below Rs. 10,000.

We need a salary increment along with the Government sector employees.We hope that the new Government will take steps to increase our salaries", he said. He said that the Provincial Council promised to increase salaries". "Competition is the main problem we face in marketing our products.

There are around 10 to 15 cooperative societies in the Jaffna district. We are unable to sell our products at the market price as its quality is high,", he said.