Rebound in tea output expected next year with availability of fertiliser, glyphosate

RPCs expect tea output to grow to 300mn kilograms in 2023, from estimated 260mn kilograms this year

From left: Planters Association of Ceylon Secretary General Lalith Obeyesekere, Planters Association of Ceylon spokesperson Dr. Roshan Rajadurai, Planters Association of Ceylon Chairman Senaka Alawattegama, PHDT Director General Lal Perera and Planters Association of Ceylon Deputy Chairman D.J. Ratwatte

Pic by Kithsiri De Mel

By Nishel Fernando

The Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) expect Sri Lanka’s tea production to rebound to 300 million kilograms in 2023, after falling to a record low of estimated 260 million kilograms this year, amid the short-lived ban on chemical fertilisers and other agrochemicals.

“With the current conditions and crop lost, due to the fertiliser issue and other factors, we expect around 260 million kilograms of tea by the end of 2022. In 2023, we expect a total production of 300 million kilograms, with the fertiliser now being available again with the other agrochemicals,” Planters Association of Ceylon Chairman Senaka Alawattegama told reporters in Colombo, last Friday.

However, he shared that the tea export revenue is estimated to increase marginally to US $ 1.4 billion this year, due to the high prices, compared to US $ 1.3 billion recorded in 2021.
The anticipated 260-million-kilogram output for this year is significantly low from the 299.33-million-kilogram output recorded in 2021.
Although the plantations have started receiving chemical fertiliser, Alawattegama noted that the fertilisers are being obtained at sharply high prices.

Meanwhile, the RPCs are expecting to receive the popular weedicide glyphosate within the next one to two months, through Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Although President Ranil Wickremesinghe relaxed the ban imposed on glyphosate in August this year, Alawattegama pointed out that the government needs to reverse around 16 gazette notifications, which have been issued banning the use, distribution and importation of the weedicide. 

“They have understood the implication of the ban. The government along with subject minister is supportive of relaxing the ban,” he said.
During the first nine months of the year, the tea cumulative production has fallen to a 26-year low of 192.37 million kilograms, recording a significant decrease of 42.35 million kilograms compared to the same period in 2021.