Tea industry to get chemical fertilizer in near future

• Committee led by Plantations Ministry Secy. to work out details
• Govt. maintains it is not a reversal of ban on chemical fertilizer usage 

The government has appointed a committee led by the Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation, Rawindra Hewavitharana to decide on a suitable source and other details to provide nitrogenous fertilizer in liquid form for the country’s tea sector amidst growing concerns due to the import ban on chemical fertilizers. 

“A committee chaired by the relevant subject ministry has been formed to study as to how liquid nitrogen could be provided to tea growers. There have been a lot of complaints from tea planters on fertilizer shortages. I understand that nitrogen is the biggest problem. Within a few days, more details of this mechanism will be circulated,” Cabinet Co-Spokesperson and the Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Last week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa granted approval to bring down special fertilizer for the tea sector following an intervention by Plantation Minister Ramesh Pathirana who outlined the industry’s role as a key foreign exchange earner for the country.

Alahapperuma noted that this is a short-term measure, and is not a reversal of the import ban on chemical fertilizers.

Nitrogen fertilizer is critical for growth as well as quality of tea. According Tea Research Institute (TRI) the main source of nitrogenous fertilizer for tea plantations in Sri Lanka is sulphate of ammonia, which has around 26 percent nitrogen content. In addition, urea, which has around 46 percent nitrogen content, has also been used on a limited scale by estates. 

TRI also said the fertilizer  usage in the country’s tea plantations had been based on the results of field experiments over the last four decades.

Tea remains Sri Lanka’s largest agriculture export generating around US$ 1.3-1.5 billion in export revenue per annum, while the import cost on fertilizers for tea sector amounts to only US$ 30 million. 

Tea planters had cautioned on a possible collapse of the industry in the absence of required fertilizers following the government’s policy decision to go organic by totally banning chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals. (NF)