Fertilizer subsidy for tea plantations

by Staff Writer 21-01-2022 | 4:37 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Minister of Plantation Industries, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana says that a fertilizer subsidy will be implemented for tea cultivations.

He stated that an agreement has been reached with the tea Sri Lanka Tea Board in this regard.

With the ban of chemical fertilizer, tea cultivators faced many issues due to the shortage of chemical fertilizer for tea cultivatons.

However, although farmers were advised to cultivate using organic fertilizer, tea growers said that they cannot use organic fertilizer.

Furthermore, many tea growers were seen staging protests against the Government's decision to use organic fertilizer.

However, the Ministry of Plantation Industries stated that tea production has increased in the previous year compared to 2020, which was 279 million kilograms.

Furthermore, the minister said tea harvest has increased up to 305 million kilograms in 2021.

However, the tea leaf yield in the country has declined in the past few months.