Sri Lankan government launches tea planting programme for small holders
Sri Lanka’s Plantation Ministry in collaboration with the country’s State Ministry of Company Estate Reforms, Tea Estate Related Crops, Tea Factory Modernisation and Tea Export Promotion is reportedly stepping up efforts to encourage tea smallholders to replant new and replace dead plants in a five-year program.
The initiative titled ‘Re-awakening Tea 2021-2025 Tea Revival Half Decade’ grants relief aid to tea small holder cultivators for replanting, new plants and replacing dead plants next year, the Daily FT has reported.
In this connection, the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority will offer grants of Rs. 500,000 per hectare for tea replanting, Rs. 310,000 per hectare for new planting and Rs. 100,000 per dead plant to be re-plant anew in the tea land, the news report stated.
Accordingly, interested tea smallholders have time till 15 February 2021 to submit their applications.
The initiative is being promoted via the regional offices of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority/sub-office/tea inspection/ extension officer or tea small holdings development societies.
Smallholders and their production systems play a significant role in the future of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Smallholdings today account for over 75% of the total made tea production.
OSL take:
The government of Sri Lanka has given priority to the country’s tea plantation sector in a bid to further upgrade the tea industry. Sri Lanka is focused on regaining its top slot in the international tea market. Sri Lankan tea was seeing a pick up in the international market when the global Covid 19 pandemic affected the global commodity market. Authorities are also offering many concessions to the tea industry, making it a lucrative sector for foreign investments. Foreign businesses/investors could explore opportunities in Sri Lanka’s tea industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/10122020/Z_3 |