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Rubber, coconut, cinnamon exports generates $ 4 b 

31 Dec 2021

Exports of rubber, coconut and cinnamon have generated $ 4 billion in export earnings this year.  Minister of Plantation Dr. Ramesh Pathirana stated: “Despite the crisis, this year has been a golden year for the plantation industry. Nearly $ 4 billion is expected to earn from export of rubber, coconut, and cinnamon this year. This will be the highest export earnings we receive for the first time in history.”  The Minister made this observation while participating in a function organised at the Ape Gama premises in Battaramulla to recognise officers who have completed 25 years of service in the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority.  Dr. Pathirana further added: “The plantation industry and agriculture faced a severe crisis this year. Even at that moment, the crises have not been resolved. Those crises arose with the ban on fertiliser, but we have already found solutions to the problem. So do not hesitate to get involved in the plantation industry, but whatever the challenges, we are committed to make the tea industry a profitable industry next year. The Tea Small Holdings Development Authority has a special role to play in carrying out that task.  “Despite the potential for high export earnings from the tea industry, it was missed. But there is a potential to harvest about 305 million kg of tea this year. We are ready to meet the problems that we have faced this year and face it in a new way next year as well. As a Government, we are ready to provide maximum assistance for the purpose. This year has been a year of high tea replanting. We are also ready to provide tea plants and compost fertiliser free of charge to anyone who wishes to grow tea. Now we need to go beyond traditional cultivation. Only then will we be able to build a better plantation economy. A large number of people have already asked for tea plants. It is our responsibility to provide them with the necessary technical know-how and high-yielding tea plants.”  In addition, Dr. Pathirana noted that the Government has provided permission to import fertiliser again. Therefore, the country will receive sufficient fertiliser by February. However, the price of fertiliser in the world market has increased. Due to this, a problem has arisen in the country regarding the price of fertiliser.  State Minister of Company Establishment Reforms, Tea Estate Crops, Tea Factory Modernisation, and Tea Export Diversification Kanaka Herath stated: “The tea industry is the main industry that builds the national economy. If we want to further strengthen the economy, we must strengthen the planters. We are paying for a challenging year. The global coronavirus outbreak and fertiliser problem have caused some setbacks in the industry, but amidst all these problems, we are working to strengthen the smallholders who contribute to the national economy. We have allocated Rs. 4,000 billion from this Budget for the purpose. We hope to use the said sum of money to develop new methods to increase tea production.”  Ministry of Plantation Secretary Ravindra Hewawitharana, State Ministry Secretary Tilakaratne Banda, Tea Small Holdings Development Authority Chairman Dr. Thushara Priyadarshana, and Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathi Molligoda were also present.


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