New strategies to overcome challenges in tea industry

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Plantation Industries Ministry has taken measures to implement new strategies to overcome challenges in the tea industry, said Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasighe.

The minister said it is necessary for those in the tea industry to engage in good agricultural practices ensuring consistence, replanting, infilling practices and proper fertilizer application.

"The ministry is in the process of implementing two percent replanting objective that we have decided on. This process applies not only to the RPCs, but, also to small holders who make a significant contribution towards the sustainability of tea plantations. If planters don't replant, productivity will be affected. This would result in an increase in the cost of production which will see a decrease in competitiveness and sustainability," said the minister.

He said most of the 22 RPCs have exceeded two percent target, but some haven't even come close to even one percent. So we are working with them to ensure that the two percent objective is met. The biggest problem is faced by small holders who produce 75 percent of tea. Most of them have less than an acre of land.

"When we talk to them about replanting, they say what are you going to do about the loss of income as they find it difficult to sustain their families with the income they get. They say they can't afford to replant as a result of the loss of income," he said. The Minister said discussions have been held with the Treasury about the possibility of increasing the replanting subsidy. The government grants a monthly subsidy.

"We have also proposed about the establishment of a fund which can be used by smallholders to top up the possible increase that we will give with this budget, so that the full cost of replanting can be obtained by them with a gestation period three to four years," he said.

Minister Samarasighe also said over Rs. five billion is being spent by the government to provide the fertilizer subsidy.

"I have directed TRI researchers to make field visits to all districts and conduct adaptive trials and soil tests. They took up that challenge and now they have come up with a long term composition, which has been forwarded to the Treasury and we hope to implement it soon," he said.

"TRI scientists have also suggested that Dolomite be used along with fertilizer to enhance the productivity," Minister Samarasinghe said.

"The Treasury was well disposed towards the idea of providing dolomite along with the bag of fertilizer. Dolomite cannot be mixed with fertilizer, hence, it will be issued separately," he said.

The Minister said the final outcome of all these measures is the sustainability of a very important industry.