• Replanting needed to reach previous production heights
• Rs. 500 b investment, 40,000 hectare replantation needed for revival
• 2024 annual target to fall short of historic highs
• Realistic target set at 280 m kg

There is an urgent need to promote replanting considering the age of tea bushes in the country in order for Sri Lanka to reach its previous tea production levels, the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) reveals. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, SLTB Chairman Niraj De Mel pointed out that although the chemical fertiliser issue had been resolved, due to the age of the tea bushes, Sri Lanka was no longer able to meet the tea production levels it had achieved around a decade ago. 

Therefore, if Sri Lanka intends to improve its tea production numbers, there needs to be a massive replantation effort.

“From 2016-2019 our crops yielded 300 million kg per year, while our highs were around 338 million kg and 340 million kg, respectively, in 2013 and 2014. Yields have declined drastically due to ill-informed policy decisions taken by the Government.”

While the SLTB Chairman expressed hope that Sri Lanka would be able to reach the 300 million kg level by 2027, he opined that 280 million kg would be a more realistic target. 

He observed that it was no longer a question of adding more fertiliser due to the age of the tea bushes, adding that a massive replantation effort would have to be undertaken if Sri Lanka were to reach its previous highs.

Commenting further, De Mel revealed that if Sri Lanka intended to reach its all-time tea production highs achieved during the 2013/’14 period, it would require a massive tea bush replanting effort covering an area of around 40,000 hectares and involving an investment of around Rs. 500 billion.

He stated that due to the significant investment involved in replanting as well as the lack of revenue during the gestation period of 4-6 years, Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and smallholder tea planters were not in favour of replanting.

Therefore, he stated that Government support would be crucial in the replanting endeavour. 

Commenting on the predicted tea production figures for 2024, he claimed it would be considered a victory if Sri Lanka reached last year’s production figure of 256 million kg. De Mel further pointed out that at the end of the first six months this year, tea production had declined seven million kg Year-on-Year (YoY).