The prevalent drought situation in the country has caused a detrimental impact to the tea industry in the Balangoda area.

According to our correspondent, the small tea plantations industry is the main source of income for nearly 80 percent of the population in the Balangoda area. Tea small holders and workers are severely inconvenienced due to the drought.

Tea-pluckers in the area are losing out on their daily wage as tea plants have withered.

Meanwhile,  as tea small holders have lost their sources of income, the situation has also caused much inconvenience to consumers who purchase tea leaves.