Lanka's tea industry gains competitive advantage

Sri Lanka's tea industry has gained a competitive advantage over other major tea exporting countries due to the use of biological pest and disease control methods to produce quality tea, said Dr. Dhayan Kirtisinghe, Quality Certification Manager, Tea Association of Sri Lanka in an interview with the Sunday Observer .

He said the use of agricultural pesticides is low in Sri Lanka compared to India and China due to the emphasis placed on the use of biological pest control methods by the Tea Research Institute which has helped the industry to conform to standards required by importing countries.

"We need to convince our buyers that Sri Lanka has the best in breed and assure that the standards they seek are already met with the chemical evidence that is now being sought," Dr. Kirtisinghe said.

He said the Tea Industry is making progress but the process needs to be expedited by producing quality teas to meet international food safety standards.

Good agricultural practices where there is less dependence on chemical pesticides is inbuilt into our system and the day when we fully depend on biological control we will be ahead of other exporting countries meeting quality and safety standards, he said.

Product testing in a recognised laboratory is vital to ensure quality and safety of agricultural products exported to EU countries and Japan.

The test is necessary for agrochemicals which includes pesticides, insecticides, nematicides, heavy metal and microbiological. Tea factories will have to arm themselves with laboratory certificates stating the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in the products.

Lack of a quality labour force is one of the major obstacles that the industry faces today due to lack of training, facilities and inadequately addressed labour problems. The quality of product depends on the quality of people. If the industry is to progress it has to improve productivity per estate, labourer and acre, he said.

There cannot be quality products with a low quality workforce due to heavy politicisation of the industry. Politicians appointing inefficient and unskilled personnel to hold key positions in institutions has serious impediments to the growth of the industry.

Such appointments at the expense of profitable employment will ruin an industry, Dr. Kirtisinghe said.

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Full interview

Convincing tea buyers on Lanka's best breed vital

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The Sri Lankan Tea industry must convince its buyers that it has the best breed by producing quality tea that meets safety standards, said Dr. Dhayan Kirtisinghe, Quality Certification Manager, Tea Association of Sri Lanka in an interview with the Sunday Observer .

Q: What is the status of the global tea industry?

A: "Black" Tea is primarily the backbone of the Tea industry in Sri Lanka. Globally, production increases by 2 1/2% per annum while consumption increases by only 1 1/2% per annum due to competition from other beverages, particularly, fruit juices.

As a result, it is difficult to envisage the likelihood of any price increases to offset increases in cost of production due to wage increases or costs of other inputs such as energy in the near future and fortuitous conditions such as inclement weather in other countries.

We also have to take note that the cost of production in Sri Lanka is higher than any of its competitors, be it Kenya, India, Indonesia or Vietnam. For example, the production cost of around Rs. 185 per kilogram in Sri Lanka is high compared to around Rs. 60 per kilogram in Vietnam.

Q: How do you gauge the progress of the Lankan Tea Industry?

A: Our greatest strength has been the emphasis that the Tea Research Institute (TRI) has placed on the biological control of pests and diseases, as opposed to chemical control and as a result the use of agricultural pesticides is low in the country, compared with India or China.

It is therefore, easier for Sri Lanka to conform to standards required by importing countries. We have to prove that this is so, in accordance with internationally set procedures, and for this reason we have to conduct "product testing" in a recognised (accredited) laboratory and produce evidence to the satisfaction of buyers.

Product testing will need to be done for agrochemicals which includes pesticides, insecticides, nematicides, heavy metals, microbiological and factories wishing to sell in those markets will have to be armed with laboratory certificates stating the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in their products.

The Sri Lankan Tea Industry is making progress but there is a need to expedite the process.

Q: What obstacles do we face and what is the way out?

A: The only hope of survival is to convince our buyers that we are the "best in breed" and to do so, we have to produce "quality teas" to meet the food safety standards specified by importing countries.

We have to recognise that we have certain advantages inbuilt into our system such as our agricultural practices being such that we are not heavily dependent on pesticides. The day when we can have full biological control of such problems, is unfortunately a long way off but we are well ahead of the others in this activity and can meet global standards without difficulty.

What we need to do now is to demonstrate to our buyers that the standards they seek are already being met, with the chemical evidence that is now being sought by them.

Q: The quality of the product depends on the quality of people. What are your views?

A: Since this process is one which is intended to provide continual improvement, regular training programs for staff at all levels are essential.

Q: How can we tackle the labour shortage?

A: This problem is here to stay and the way to handle it is to provide workers with an interesting job which meets the aspirations of the people, and at the same time, ensure improved productivity per employee.

This can be achieved through mechanisation of estate operations, particularly plucking and pruning, and also encompassing all areas of estate and factory activity. The TRI must have an active division geared solely towards this activity.

Q: Are strikes a bane or boon to the industry?

A: They are best avoided.

Q: How are we to retain Ceylon tea at its best?

A: The certification of tea is the surest way to convince a buyer overseas that "Ceylon Tea is the best in breed".

Q: What role should the State play to develop the industry?

A: Work mainly as a "Regulatory Body" and allow owners the freedom to work as a commercial enterprise without getting deeply involved in day-to-day operations.

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