The Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion, Nihal Somaweera, said that measures have been taken to uplift the Kitul Producing Industry from rural to commercial industry level under the National Programme of Kitul Production Development.

New Technology and marketing facilities will be introduced to the people engaged in the industry to encourage them, under this programme.

It has been estimated that a sum of Rs. 10,000 per month could be obtained by tapping one kitul tree to produce treacle and jaggery.

According to the survey made by the Agrarian Development and Department of Census and Statistics, it has been disclosed that there are about 6 million kitul trees in the island and about 6 lakhs of trees are in the stage of blooming. Only 16% of which are suitable for tapping. It has also been ascertained that about 30,000 people are engaged in the kitul industry.

Somaweera said that as there is high demand for high quality kitul products, measures have been taken to uplift this industry.

‘Kesper’ treatment has been introduced to promote the toddy harvest which is very essential for the kitul industry. Steps have been taken to distribute this through Agrarian Services Centres. The Ministry of Rural Industries has taken steps to elevate the kitul producers socially, technically and economically by registering them and issuing identity cards, introducing a pension scheme and insurance scheme for them. Steps have been taken to maintain high standard of kitul treacle and kitul related products and providing marketing facilities for them. Apart from this, research has commenced to introduce high-yielding kitul trees.

Kitul producing pilot projects have been commenced in the Divisional Secretariats of Imbulpe, Passara, Hataraliyadda, Bulathsinhala, Tawalama, and Madulla. Under this programme introducing new expertise and providing training for the Kitul industrialists also under way. In keeping line with the implementation of this programme, rural people have shown interest in the kitul producing industry.

Annually, 500,000 metric tones of sugar are been imported at the cost of Rs. 20,000 million. The Ministry anticipates curtailing the import of sugar imports by enhancing kitul production.