Kithul entrepreneurs request for permission for toddy-tapping in forest reserves

Kithul entrepreneurs requested the Agriculture Minister, to remove the legal barriers to the toddy tapping from Kithul trees in the forest conservation lands to get economic benefits from the Kithul trees.

Recent observation tour by the minister in Ratnapura and Ratganga areas to find out and address the issues faced by Kithul entrepreneurs. The Kithul entrepreneurs submitted their request to the Minister during the tour.

"Kithul-related production industry is widely carried out in the districts of Ratnapura, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Galle, Hambantota and Kegalle. The last census of Kithul trees in Sri Lanka was conducted in 2009. According to the information of the Census Department, the number of Kithul trees in our country at that time stood at 574,254. The number of Kithul trees used for economic purposes was 89,865," the minister said.

Accordingly, only 15.64% of the total number of Kithul trees is utilized and 84% is ignored and unutilized. The largest number of these wasted Kithul trees is found in forest reserves.

Kithul entrepreneurs state that although they can earn an income of Rs. 500 million daily through the Kithul industry, the country is losing a large amount of foreign exchange due to the fact that the industry is not or under developed.

Minister Amaraweera mentioned that since the forest conservation lands are currently under the Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry and said he would discuss with the subject minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi and take steps to provide solutions.

Accordingly, the Kitul entrepreneurs who are registered under Small Scale Agricultural Entrepreneurship Development Program will not face any problem in this regard, but Kithul industrialists who work outside of it should also be given the opportunity.

The current legal framework is in place to make the most of Kithul trees in reserved lands. The minister mentioned that the barriers could be removed. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)