New Tea Board funding scheme for high shade trees

Sri Lanka Tea Board has stepped up its support of the industry by setting up a funding scheme for high shade trees for tea lands of over 10 acres.

It is offering subsidies for tea plucking lands falling in the medium and large-scale tea estate categories of over 10 acres, where tea has been cultivated already and establishment of high shade trees has not been made. 

However, the relevant estates should be registered under the Sri Lanka Tea Board.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board will provide Rs. 100 per high shade tree planted in the field for a maximum of 28 plants per acre.

These high shade varieties should be selected as per the recommendation of the Tea Research Institute (TRI) relevant to the up-country, mid-country and low-country areas.

“The objective is to encourage growers and estate owners to increase production and support those want to expand tea nurseries,” Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda told the Daily FT.

He said that they have noticed a clear reduction in quality tea harvest over the past several years, and Sri Lanka Tea Board have initiated several projects in soil management, shade management and expansion of nurseries.

The application forms can be obtained from Sri Lanka Tea Board’s website www.srilankateaboard.lk or Tea Commissioners in regional offices. 

The deadline for submission of the application is 31 December.