Govt. launches 5-year tea planting program for smallholders

Saturday, 28 November 2020 00:05 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Charumini de Silva


The Plantation Ministry in collaboration with the State Ministry of Company Estate Reforms, Tea Estate Related Crops, Tea Factory Modernisation and Tea Export Promotion is stepping up efforts to encourage tea smallholders to replant new and replace dead plants in a five-year program.

The initiative titled ‘Re-awakening Tea 2021-2025 Tea Revival Half Decade’ grants relief aid to tea small holder cultivators for replanting, new plants and replacing dead plants next year. 

In this connection, the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority will offer grants of Rs. 500,000 per hectare for tea replanting, Rs. 310,000 per hectare for new planting and Rs. 100,000 per dead plant to be re-plant anew in the tea land.

Interested tea smallholders have time till 15 February 2021 to submit their applications.

The initiative is being promoted via the regional offices of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority/sub-office/tea inspection/ extension officer or tea small holdings development societies.

Smallholders and their production systems play a significant role in the future of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Smallholdings today account for over 75% of the total made tea production amounts to 75% which is a strong helping hand to the national economy.

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