Tea industry soon will have access to chemical fertilisers

• Govt. to allow artificial fertiliser imports via a licensing system
• Tea Board chief says decision to import chemical fertilisers is temporary 
• Stresses importation and usage of chemical fertilisers will be strictly monitored to prevent excessive application

Sri Lanka’s tea industry will soon have access to chemical fertilisers, with the government having decided last week to allow the stakeholders to import the necessary boosters and stimulants under a licensing system, until the required soil quality is achieved. Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) Chairman Japampathy Molligoda confirmed that the tea industry has been permitted to import nitrogen-based chemical fertilisers and mineral fertilisers until the plantations are able to make a transition towards reduced dependency on artificial fertilisers.

Molligoda stressed the government’s decision taken last week is a “pragmatic approach” and is a “temporary arrangement” to provide the necessary balanced nutrients to the plantations and ensure there is no going back to excessive use of chemical fertilisers.

While the required artificial fertilisers will be made available as requested by the plantation companies in the recent months, the government will have in place a monitoring mechanism that would be reviewed on a quarterly basis to take into account the increase in production, the supply of organic fertilisers and any gaps in the system that needs to be bridged. Discussions have already been held with the relevant authorities to have in place a system to tally the figures with the import/export controllers, so the import of fertilisers can be “strictly” monitored under the proposed licence arrangement.

“It goes without saying that we will have to ensure providing balanced nutrients for tea during this transitional period, within the overall state policy of migrating into organic inputs and 
green economy.

Let us fast-track our efforts to increase local production and concentrate on supporting producers to source raw materials, chopping machines, testing of final products and having our own analytical laboratory facilities for soil testing and nutrient in the organic fertiliser usage,” said Molligoda, commenting on the recent decision taken with regard to the importation of artificial fertilisers.  Meanwhile, he pointed out that contrary to popular belief, the tea production and auction sale figures have not shown any indication that the chemical fertiliser ban has adversely affected tea quality or production.   Molligoda also said that any drop in production and quality of Ceylon Tea can be attributed to the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and smallholders not focusing enough on producing liquid and solid organic fertilisers and compost and also authorities not taking “speedy” action to import the balance requirement of fertiliser by way of importing chemicals and minerals needed to make the correct mixtures.