Kitul Tree Based Industry
Kitul Tree Based Industry
A monthly income of about Rs.10, 000 (100US$) is
possible from a successfully tapped tree. The Kithul industry therefore, being
a cottage industry takes care of many of the rural poor, contributing to the
Sri Lankan rural economy to some extent. The villagers who were
knowledgeable about the techniques were highly regarded in their society, as
they were the masters in the techniques. This traditional knowledge on the
tapping techniques was a highly guarded and much valued secret, kept within
families and handed down only to their own generations.
The traditional industry dates back to about 2000 years according to
ancient literature and Kithul products were commodities that were used in the
barter system for other foods such as paddy, pulses, vegetables and meat, as
Kithul treacle and jaggery were the popular sweeteners of ancient Ceylon. The
traditional knowledge on tapping is amazing. With their techniques, once an
inflorescence is tapped, the sap had been obtained continuously for a
considerable period. In certain cases, sap had been obtained for 8-10 months
from inflorescences with a yield of about 20-30 bottles per day per
inflorescence.
“Kithul”(Caryota urens), is an indigenous monoecious plant, naturally grown in
the wild. Regarded as a money-spinner for the rural masses over 10000
villagers in 14 villagers are now engaged the Kitul based products as Kithul
based products have become a lucrative industry. Kithul products have a high
demand due to its uniqueness in taste, aroma and traditional claims on the
health benefits. However, due to the scarcity in production coupled with this
high demand these products are a highly priced commodity. Many families
in rural Sri Lanka still rely solely on the Kithul palm for their livelihood
through the income obtained by the sale of Kithul treacle and jaggery.
Kitul Tree based industry
A monthly income of about Rs.10, 000 (100US$) is possible from a successfully
tapped tree. TheKithul industry therefore, being a cottage industry takes care
of many of the rural poor, contributing to the Sri Lankan rural economy to some
extent. The villagers who were knowledgeable about the techniques were
highly regarded in their society, as they were the masters in the techniques.
This traditional knowledge on the tapping techniques was a highly guarded and
much valued secret, kept within families and handed down only to their own
generations.
Kitul Tree based industry
The traditional industry dates back to about 2000 years according to
ancient literature and Kithul products were commodities that were used in the
barter system for other foods such as paddy, pulses, vegetables and meat, as
Kithul treacle and jaggery were the popular sweeteners of ancient Ceylon. The
traditional knowledge on tapping is amazing. With their techniques, once an
inflorescence is tapped, the sap had been obtained continuously for a
considerable period. In certain cases, sap had been obtained for 8-10 months
from inflorescences with a yield of about 20-30 bottles per day per
inflorescence.
Kitul Tree based industry
This traditional techniques used by Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) villagers is
unmatched and to the best of our knowledge, not observed in any other country
in the region, although this palm is available in Asian tropics. Therefore,
this unique knowledge and the unique products are truly Sri Lankan only and can
therefore, be justifiably proud of the wisdom and skill displayed by our
ancestors.
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