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Demand for local tea increased in international market
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka - Switzerland
23rd July 2007 “In order to comply with the rising demand for Sri Lankan tea both in local and international market land area used in tea cultivation process should be extended to at least 20,000 acres annually,” said Minister of Plantation Industries D.M. Jayarathne. He said this at a meeting held in the Small Tea Estate Development Authority. The Ministry has implemented new strategic measures to uplift the industry including the introduction of tea varieties with higher productivity and application of advanced technology for all sections of the production process. The Ministry will also facilitate the farmers in solving their problems with relate to the ownership of the lands used for cultivation at present.
Minister has instructed the authorities to lend maximum assistance to the farmers engaged in tea, coconut and rubber cultivation. The government has deployed a workforce of 35,000 to administer the Government maintained development projects in the agricultural sector.
It was revealed that 74% of the local tea production is done through small tea estate owners extended in a land area of 59% out of the total land used for tea cultivation in the country.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Plantation Industries has inaugurated a ‘Guidline project’ in the district of Kaluthara to ensure the quality of finished tea product. Under the ‘Tea Shakthi’ programme new methodologies will be implemented to get the maximum productivity of tea plantations.
The dramatic increase in demand for Sri Lankan tea at the international market has resulted in a hike of Rs.56.50 for 1 kilogram when compared to last year. Last year 1 Kg of Tea was sold at Rs.192/= in the international market, which is now offered Rs.247.50.
Due to unexpected weather changes and workers strikers the local tea industry decreased in 20% during the first quarter of this year which stands to 12% by the month of June. Despite those negative factors the Government is hoping the same output capacity of the production as in the year 2006 by the end of this year.
(Courtesy : Department of Government Information) |
| Published : Monday, July 23, 2007 05:07:04 PM (Geneva time) |
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