A study on palmyrah (Borasus fJabellifer) utilization pattern and socioeconomic status of dependent livelihood in Mannar district of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Tha palrnyrah palm (Borassusflcbelhjer L) is a multipurpose tree of great util ity, occurs extens. velyin Northern and Eastern part of Sri Lz!'b. This tree engages human labour in the industries around itirrespecti ve of t;ewkr or age. Th is survey was carried )1". to study utilization pattern of palrnyrah treeand assess the socioeconomic parameters of ra-i.iomly selected 60 families registered in five cooperativesocieties of Mannar c1i,tJict.

Th:5 study revealed 1hat 93 % ormales and 7 % otfemales entirely engaged ill this industry with th-.average of 1.2 persors from each farr.ily. The average monthly family income of study populationwas RS 11320 ± 3! 8 ['J;Jees, C'JIY>~5l r-Ier hizher i'1CJp..c.. 6r('L'P. When cornpa '116the family incomewith the average 1'('I)\ehold nU1Jl~er cf 5.8 ± I.l ~Ic,'(·1 Inadequacy to meetpresent expend lure.Further more, study showed that these famines did not show much interest on children education andmost cf youngsters leave school before sitting General Certificate of Education Ordinary Levelexamination. 58 % of families were living in small c r medium size cottage made up of timber andpalrnyrah leaves as roofing material.

Tapping of mat ere tree was main source ofi!1C01'1e. One male tapped 14 ± 2.7 trees per day with theaverage of 8 ± 1.2 liter of toddy per tree. They did not produce sweet toddy (unfermented s-ip)because orlow demand. They normally market toddy (fermented sap) to their customers for drinking,co-operative society under palrnyrah development board and for vinegar production. The price oftoddy also varied from RS 6 to 20,00 rupees depending on quality. Apart from that, most of thetappers had to travel about 3 krn out of co-operative boundary for tapping and selling their product.During off season ":~d free time, they do timber carving, animal raring and palrnyrah tuber production.Women did not actively engage ill this industry except few workers in coir factory. Based on this study, it is concluded that this industry provides vast opportunity for further exploiting labour force inrespect to production of beverage, sugar, alcohol, fibre, fuel wood, timber and row materials forhandicrafts. As well as this study clearly stated that implementing innovative technologies with productdiversification and opening new market channels are the necessary pre requisite of this industry infuture.