Sri Lanka’s Agriculture and Livestock Ministry is to set up a Kithul Development Authority to promote food products made from this palm’s sap, such as the sweet drink toddy, treacle and another confectionary, jaggery.

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Columbo considers that kithul could be a useful rival to coconut-based products. The aim of the authority is to expand kithul plantations, providing financial assistance and advice.


Meanwhile, the ministry’s Export Agriculture Research and Enterprise Development Unit is investigating the potential for exporting Kithul-based products, and considers that there could be a “good export market.” Kithul fruit is also used for food production, being ground into flour.


By Swineetha Dias Wickramanayaka, in Columbo

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