Seminar for tea smallholders

Victor Alahakoon-Peradeniya special correspondent

A meeting and a seminar was conducted by the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority in association with the Social Security Pension Scheme, Security Board, Kandy to encourage Tea Smallholders of the district to improve their income by intercropping in their tea lands and also to introduce 'Randalu' Social Security Pension Scheme, for Tea Smallholders of the district. The meeting and the seminar was held at the Mossville Estate, Dolosbage recently.

From left: Social Security Board Kandy Asst. General Manager Nimal Gunasekera, Mossville Estate Dolosbage Basil Harley, Government Agent Kandy Gothabhaya Jayaratne, the Chief Guest Asst. A.G.A. Ganga Ehala Korale Ms. Ranjani Jayakody and Regional Manager Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, Gampola Y.B. Ukuwela, .

The Chief Guest was Government Agent, Kandy Gothabhaya Jayaratne outlined the future plans of developing the Central Province. Ms. Ranjani Jayakody, the AGA, Gaga Ehala Korale Kurunduwatte in her welcome address spoke on the development which had taken place in the district and the development plans for the near future.

Regional Manager of the Coconut Cultivation Board, Matale H.M. Herath spoke on the cultivation of coconuts on vacant tea lands.

Department of Export Agricultural Products, Dissanayake spoke on the cultivation of pepper, cloves, coffee an arecanut as an intercrop with tea.

Director Advisory and Tea Sector of CIC, Kandy Ypul Thalagoda spoke on ways and means as to how to increase the tea crop by foliar spray with a timely ground application of fertilizer. Regional Manager, Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, Gampola Y.B. Ukuwela spoke on a timely tea harvest to get an optimum monitory benefit. Asst. General Manager, Social Security Board Kandy Nimal Gunasekera spoke on the introduction of a Pension Scheme for the tea small holding cultivators as most of the participants are keen in joining the "Randalu" Pension Scheme under the Social Security Pension Scheme.

Nearly 200 participants were present. Coconut seedlings and Coconut manure packs were distributed free to the participants. Basil Harley of Mossville Estate, Dolosbage donated funds for the program.