The controversial regulation restricting and banning the importation of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals, implemented earlier this year, has led to widespread concern among the plantation community, most notably tea planters.
The ban was originally brought about by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who claimed that limiting and banning the importation of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals will help mitigate the rising healthcare costs brought about by the overuse of chemicals in agricultural production.
The main health concern of non-communicable diseases (NCD) arising due to the use of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals has become an incredibly polarising topic. This is especially the case considering how the reasons for elevated NCD cases, like chronic kidney disease, in rural farming communities remain inconclusive, as well as the sheer number of dependents on agricultural production. The Labour Force Survey in 2021, published by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), stated that out of a labour force of eight million, 27% of the economically active population in our country engages in agricultural production and related industries.
Despite all these concerns, the argument remains that while the usage of chemical fertilisers leads to a better harvest, the long-term negative consequences caused on human lives through the pollution of lakes, canals, and groundwater outweigh the profit. The President has also highlighted that the annual sum of $ 400 million spent on chemical fertiliser imports could be used to uplift the lives of the people.
Yet to witness true effects
As a consequence of this, it would appear that the tea plantation industry has got the short end of the stick. Speaking to us, Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) Media Spokesperson Dr. Roshan Rajadurai, who is also the Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, and Horana Plantations PLC Managing Director, said the tea export industry stands to suffer the greatest consequences from these restrictions.
He said the Ceylon Tea brand is known for its quality, adding that while we are yet to see the true effects caused by this ban during the first few quarters of this year, there were stocks of fertiliser remaining in the island, which were distributed amongst the planters. He said the winter season is the key time of the year where Ceylon Tea exports flourish, as there is an incredible demand during that time for Ceylon tea.
“We will be able to manage this quarter thanks to the fertiliser we were able to use. However, we are already seeing a drop in quality due to not being able to support the plants with the nutrition it needs, and as it is a cumulative process, by not being able to supplement this quarter, the crops will be affected moving on to the next quarter as well,” he explained.
Dr. Rajadurai explained that we would feel somewhat like chum in the water with sharks circling us, as our main competitors have already identified our predicament, adding: “India, Kenya, and Indonesia – they will soon be in touch with our major buyers, as it is only logical that they grab this market advantage.”
A practical plan, need of the hour
Sri Lanka Federation of Tea Smallholders (SLFTS) Chairman K.L. Gunaratne also addressed the matter from a planter’s perspective, stating that initially there was an estimate courtesy of Sri Lanka’s tea smallholders, providing that they expect a 30% Year-on-Year (YoY) drop in harvests by the end of 2021, and a further halving of total production by March 2022.
He said that, at present, the industry is experiencing an anomaly in effective weather, stating that while typically planters experience drought during this quarter, there has been an abundance of rain where the blessed weather has gone a long way in supplementing the yields. However, he stated that there is no doubt that in the absence of a definite solution to acute fertiliser shortages, the tea plantation industry in the island will not be able to carry out its commercial production.
Gunaratne stated that planters are not intending to oppose the Government’s intentions, but “keen to support the Government’s vision”. Yet, he shared that what they need is a practical plan in adopting a 100% organic process.
He said that most tea smallholders have been deprived of fertiliser for months, also noting that there were some who were already facing difficulties in acquiring fertiliser even prior to the announcement of the import ban, and as a result, have not applied for fertiliser for the whole of 2021. He said the consequential reduction in production stands to have a devastating impact on Sri Lanka’s rural economy, as it would effectively be lowering the income of smallholder sectors drastically.
He also went on to explain the cumulative process that would affect the future of tea plantations if things are left unaddressed. When it comes to a tea plant, depending on the stage of its growth, different specialised types of fertilisers are applied based on the recommendations of the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRI). Distinct types of fertilisers are used to strengthen the root system and promote growth as well as to strengthen stems prior to harvest. He provided that after harvesting, the plant needs additional nutrients to recover in time for the next harvest.
Gunaratne shared that if, as the Government suggests, Sri Lanka is to move to totally organic tea production, major investments will be needed to help implement organic practices without losing any further income and to maintain the country’s current harvests, and that there is a huge amount of work that needs to be done to educate smallholders on these practices.
He also added that although there have been attempts at organic agriculture in the past, even amongst the smallholder sector, they have never been able to generate the same yield. If we are to proceed as the Government proposes, then the groundwork must also be provided, he said, also stating that if the intention is to ensure the health of the nation, then it would be a fool’s endeavour to pursue something that would either way affect the health of its citizens, where families affected by the economic fallout of this decision will have to suffer eventually.
Nutritional aspects of tea plants
PA Secretary General Lalith Obeyesekere also shared his thoughts on the matter, stating that it is a good idea to attempt this transition if we do it systematically. “Fully organic simply will not supplement the yield we require as we engage in the commercial production of tea, and those numbers require inorganic fertilisers,” he explained.
The tea export industry is a $ 1.4 billion revenue-making industry, and in being such a large part of our exports sector, the industry must be protected, he urged. He said that we must take efforts to assist planters rather than throwing roadblocks their way.
“It is also important to note that comparisons are being made with last year’s numbers, but last year we suffered a severe drought and then there was the effects of the outbreak of the pandemic, so it was a particularly bad year for us. Compared to those numbers, regardless of what we put the industry through, it will come out looking better than 2020. But that does not mean it is actually doing better or even equally well,” he said.
Seconding Gunaratne’s claim about the necessity of nutrition for the tea plant, Obeyesekere also shared that when it comes to the tea plant, what is most important is “NPK”, which is nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. He said that organic fertilisers are simply not able to provide a high-enough percentage of nitrogen to affect the level of commercial tea production.
Sri Lanka offers tea that is seasonal, which is a unique element of Ceylon Tea, where we have held a market advantage in that aspect for years, and being able to produce a single crop all year round has allowed Sri Lankan planters to supply an impressive demand in an effective manner. Nevertheless, with the new ban in place, we stand to lose out on a crop that is an integral part of our economy, he said, adding that the many who depend on the industry as their only significant source of income stand to face detrimental effects on their livelihoods.
The ban was originally brought about by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who claimed that limiting and banning the importation of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals will help mitigate the rising healthcare costs brought about by the overuse of chemicals in agricultural production.
The main health concern of non-communicable diseases (NCD) arising due to the use of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals has become an incredibly polarising topic. This is especially the case considering how the reasons for elevated NCD cases, like chronic kidney disease, in rural farming communities remain inconclusive, as well as the sheer number of dependents on agricultural production. The Labour Force Survey in 2021, published by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), stated that out of a labour force of eight million, 27% of the economically active population in our country engages in agricultural production and related industries.
Despite all these concerns, the argument remains that while the usage of chemical fertilisers leads to a better harvest, the long-term negative consequences caused on human lives through the pollution of lakes, canals, and groundwater outweigh the profit. The President has also highlighted that the annual sum of $ 400 million spent on chemical fertiliser imports could be used to uplift the lives of the people.
Yet to witness true effects
As a consequence of this, it would appear that the tea plantation industry has got the short end of the stick. Speaking to us, Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) Media Spokesperson Dr. Roshan Rajadurai, who is also the Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, and Horana Plantations PLC Managing Director, said the tea export industry stands to suffer the greatest consequences from these restrictions.
He said the Ceylon Tea brand is known for its quality, adding that while we are yet to see the true effects caused by this ban during the first few quarters of this year, there were stocks of fertiliser remaining in the island, which were distributed amongst the planters. He said the winter season is the key time of the year where Ceylon Tea exports flourish, as there is an incredible demand during that time for Ceylon tea.
“We will be able to manage this quarter thanks to the fertiliser we were able to use. However, we are already seeing a drop in quality due to not being able to support the plants with the nutrition it needs, and as it is a cumulative process, by not being able to supplement this quarter, the crops will be affected moving on to the next quarter as well,” he explained.
Dr. Rajadurai explained that we would feel somewhat like chum in the water with sharks circling us, as our main competitors have already identified our predicament, adding: “India, Kenya, and Indonesia – they will soon be in touch with our major buyers, as it is only logical that they grab this market advantage.”
A practical plan, need of the hour
Sri Lanka Federation of Tea Smallholders (SLFTS) Chairman K.L. Gunaratne also addressed the matter from a planter’s perspective, stating that initially there was an estimate courtesy of Sri Lanka’s tea smallholders, providing that they expect a 30% Year-on-Year (YoY) drop in harvests by the end of 2021, and a further halving of total production by March 2022.
He said that, at present, the industry is experiencing an anomaly in effective weather, stating that while typically planters experience drought during this quarter, there has been an abundance of rain where the blessed weather has gone a long way in supplementing the yields. However, he stated that there is no doubt that in the absence of a definite solution to acute fertiliser shortages, the tea plantation industry in the island will not be able to carry out its commercial production.
Gunaratne stated that planters are not intending to oppose the Government’s intentions, but “keen to support the Government’s vision”. Yet, he shared that what they need is a practical plan in adopting a 100% organic process.
He said that most tea smallholders have been deprived of fertiliser for months, also noting that there were some who were already facing difficulties in acquiring fertiliser even prior to the announcement of the import ban, and as a result, have not applied for fertiliser for the whole of 2021. He said the consequential reduction in production stands to have a devastating impact on Sri Lanka’s rural economy, as it would effectively be lowering the income of smallholder sectors drastically.
He also went on to explain the cumulative process that would affect the future of tea plantations if things are left unaddressed. When it comes to a tea plant, depending on the stage of its growth, different specialised types of fertilisers are applied based on the recommendations of the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRI). Distinct types of fertilisers are used to strengthen the root system and promote growth as well as to strengthen stems prior to harvest. He provided that after harvesting, the plant needs additional nutrients to recover in time for the next harvest.
Gunaratne shared that if, as the Government suggests, Sri Lanka is to move to totally organic tea production, major investments will be needed to help implement organic practices without losing any further income and to maintain the country’s current harvests, and that there is a huge amount of work that needs to be done to educate smallholders on these practices.
He also added that although there have been attempts at organic agriculture in the past, even amongst the smallholder sector, they have never been able to generate the same yield. If we are to proceed as the Government proposes, then the groundwork must also be provided, he said, also stating that if the intention is to ensure the health of the nation, then it would be a fool’s endeavour to pursue something that would either way affect the health of its citizens, where families affected by the economic fallout of this decision will have to suffer eventually.
Nutritional aspects of tea plants
PA Secretary General Lalith Obeyesekere also shared his thoughts on the matter, stating that it is a good idea to attempt this transition if we do it systematically. “Fully organic simply will not supplement the yield we require as we engage in the commercial production of tea, and those numbers require inorganic fertilisers,” he explained.
The tea export industry is a $ 1.4 billion revenue-making industry, and in being such a large part of our exports sector, the industry must be protected, he urged. He said that we must take efforts to assist planters rather than throwing roadblocks their way.
“It is also important to note that comparisons are being made with last year’s numbers, but last year we suffered a severe drought and then there was the effects of the outbreak of the pandemic, so it was a particularly bad year for us. Compared to those numbers, regardless of what we put the industry through, it will come out looking better than 2020. But that does not mean it is actually doing better or even equally well,” he said.
Seconding Gunaratne’s claim about the necessity of nutrition for the tea plant, Obeyesekere also shared that when it comes to the tea plant, what is most important is “NPK”, which is nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. He said that organic fertilisers are simply not able to provide a high-enough percentage of nitrogen to affect the level of commercial tea production.
Sri Lanka offers tea that is seasonal, which is a unique element of Ceylon Tea, where we have held a market advantage in that aspect for years, and being able to produce a single crop all year round has allowed Sri Lankan planters to supply an impressive demand in an effective manner. Nevertheless, with the new ban in place, we stand to lose out on a crop that is an integral part of our economy, he said, adding that the many who depend on the industry as their only significant source of income stand to face detrimental effects on their livelihoods.