Tea production to get into top gear as fertilizer usage issues come to the fore

by Ifham Nizam

The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries is taking prompt action to increase tea production this year, in the wake of a request to that effect by the Ceylon Tea Board.

The Ceylon Tea Board had stressed that to get a proper yield from tea cultivation, fertilizer should be applied properly. However, due to some tea growers not applying fertilizer, tea plantations do not get a proper yield, tea industry sources said.

Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera recently decided to provide the fertilizer required for tea cultivation through two state fertilizer companies; Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company and Ceylon Fertilizer Company.

To date, the Ceylon Tea Board had given loans to tea growers to purchase the fertilizers required for tea cultivation from the private sector and the tea growers had to pay a higher price as a result, Amaraweera said.

The minister also said that it was reported that some tea growers use the money provided for the buying of fertilizer for other purposes.Meanwhile, informed sources said that the annual fertilizer requirement for tea cultivation in Sri Lanka is 40,000 metric tons. The amount spent on it is around Rs. 6800 million.

A discussion regarding these issues was held recently at the Ministry of Plantation Industries under the patronage of Minister Amaraweera and a group of officials, including the Secretary to the ministry Janaka Dharmakeerthi. Chairman of the Ceylon Tea Board Jayantha Edirisinghe also took part in the discussion.

Amaraweera had instructed all sectors related to the tea industry to take steps to make the B-60 policy, which is implemented to ensure the quality of tea produced in Sri Lanka, compulsory from this week.

The B-60 policy lays down that at least 60 percent of the leaves used to produce tea must be of high quality.

The minister also discussed the next steps to be taken to ensure the quality of Sri Lankan tea with all the stakeholders in the tea industry. The Tea Development Authority, Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, Tea Research Institute, Tea Suppliers Association and Tea Manufacturers Association featured in the talks.

Amaraweera explained that Sri Lanka tea took the world by storm a few decades ago but due to the activities of some businessmen, the brand is facing a serious crisis.

‘Consequently, project B-60 was initiated to ensure the high quality of tea leaves to restore the recognition Sri Lankan tea had been receiving in the international market, he explained.