Major Kithul products fair in Colombo April 4-6
View(s):The Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development has organised the Kithulaka Varuna Exhibition and Trade Fair – showcasing Kithul products – on April 4-6 at the Sudarshi Sinhala Cultural Centre opposite the BMICH.
This is an annual exhibition and trade fair held every year before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year to popularise and promote the Kithul products of the country, the ministry said.
Fifty trade stalls have been established to exhibit and showcase quality Kithul products and provide market opportunities to the Kithul producers to sell their products directly to the consumers. “The producers will exhibit Kithul treacle and jaggery, Kithul flour (Piti), Kithul based food and beverages such as pudding, halapa, thalapa, Kithul pitti kandha, handicrafts, timber and furniture etc. Among the exhibitors, an assessment will be made to select the high quality Kithul products and producers to recognise, motivate and encourage and work towards high quality products. The best performers will be given awards and certificates,” according to a ministry media release.
Demonstration training sessions are also being organised for women, home-based entrepreneurs and for those who are interested in preparing Kithul-based food and beverages. This demonstration session will be conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management.
The ministry says there is a lot of potential for the Kithul industry as only 20 per cent of the Kithul trees are tapped at present
Surveys undertaken by the ministry in partnership with the Department of Census and Statistics revealed that there are 3 million Kithul trees in 18 districts which includes Ratnapura, Kandy, Badulla, Moneragala, Matara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Kalutara, Galle, Kurunegala, Matale, Hambantota, Colombo, Gampaha, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Puttalam. Currently, there are over 35,000 tappers in all 18 districts. Of the 3 million trees, there are around 600,000 matured trees of which about 120,000 trees are currently being tapped.
“On the other hand, Kithul treacle and jaggery have been identified as nutritional and healthy products and believed to have a low Glycemic index value among sweeteners and as such it is claimed that it will not have an effect on the blood sugar level. Hence, the pure Kithul is widely believed as an ideal sweetener for diabetes,” the ministry said.