Support for tea factory owners

Minister of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Ramesh Pathirana met with representatives of the Tea Factory Owners’ Association recently to discuss various issues being faced by the Association’s members. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture on 20 January.

The issue of fertiliser for estates was discussed firstly. Presently the industry is getting a subsidy of 45% yet factories are running under capacity. Micro residual levels in teas are analysed in labs in Japan. The Association urged for setting up a lab in SL, as otherwise manufacturers are saddled with added cost. By end of February, ITI will be also capable to do the tests at the same standards as the Japanese Labs.

Imports of teas are to match up the SL price when being imported for CTC manufacture, as imported teas will affect the Colombo Tea prices.