A meeting was organized by SEFEC to initiate a dialogue and potential partnership with service providers and industry leaders in the kithul industry. The meeting was held at the SANASA campus in Kegalle and it was attended by 15 people, representing, researchers and innovators, the Industrial Development Board (IDB), Export Development Board (EDB), Small Enterprise Development (SED), Regional Development Bank, Sanasa Development Bank, several kithul based entrepreneurs, and leaders of few farm organizations engaged in kithul industry.
The participants shared their own experiences related to different initiatives that had been undertaken by the state and other private entities to develop the kithul industry. The team highlighted the importance of creating public awareness about the low glycemic index of kithul and the nutrients it contains.
As a follow-up action, it was decided to create a list of the farm organizations that were formulated or assisted by different projects and organizations, identify market opportunities for their products, support kithul farmer collectives to become formal suppliers with standardized branded products, and introduce a training course for kithul tappers.
All the participants appreciated the efforts of SANASA international for bringing together different stakeholders to one platform and they pledged their support to the APFP-FO4A project and SANASA. SANASA is the national implementing agency of APFP-FO4A in Sri Lanka.
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