Development of Kithul industry to cut down sugar imports

The Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Science and Technology and Agriculture and Agrarian Services Ministry has allocated Rs 3 million to develop the Kithul Industry which will able to save Rs.20,000 million for sugar imports, the Rural Undustries and Self-Employment Ministry said.

Rural Industries and Self-Employment Minister S.B.Navinna told The Island Financial Review that his Ministry had formulated a plan to develop Kithul industry in 56 villages across the country and an individual engaged in the Kithul industry could be able to earn about Rs.20,000 for a month provided his or her produces kithul or kithul honey in good quality.

He said that six villages had already been selected to commence the project.They are Passara, Imbulpe, Thawalama, Madulla, Hataraliyada and Bulthsinhala villages.The Kithul industry in Sri Lanka had seen a sharp decline due to unknown reasons and the government was certain that it could be a highly lucrative industry when developed.

Minister Navinna added that one of the main objectives of the government would be to utilize unemployed young men and women’s contributions to develop the industry because by this means the unemployment problem in Sri Lanka could be solved to a certain extent.

He said that the Ministry was responsible for providing modern technology to the Kithul industry and finding potential markets for kithul producers. There had been a great demand for kithul jaggary and honey in the market and a number of soft drink and milk-based products companies were interested in purchasing kithul jaggary and honey to produce a variety of food items.

Minister Navinna stressed that the consumption of sugar and sugar-based sweetmeats had posed a major health hazard to children and promotion of kithul-based food items was one of the aims of the government. The Rural Industries Ministry would distribute kithul seedlings to growers in the selected areas in a matter of weeks.

He added that the expansion of the kithul cultivation would be a another milestone because agriculture, plantation of subsidiary food crops and horticulture of edible food crops had become popular in Sri Lanka. The Forest Preservation Department and the Coconut Development Authority would be of assistance to the Rural Industries Ministry to achieve its goals in the new venture.

SOURCE: Lanka Times