Tea production up this year

By Lalin Fernandopulle

Sri Lanka's tea production this year has increased compared to last year, according to reports. Plantation company sources said that favourable weather conditions boosted tea production this year.

Watawala Plantation PLC, General Manager J.W.Y.K. de Silva said that good weather helped to notch up tea production this year and added that the upward trend could continue during the next couple of months.

“Good agronomic practices introduced by plantation companies helped boost tea production this year. Worker productivity too has increased due to various initiatives taken by companies,” de Silva said.

Tea production in March this year was 32.1 mkgs, an increase of 3.2 mkgs over the corresponding month of last year which was 28.9 mkgs. Tea production in all three elevations improved over the corresponding figures of March, 2012 with High Growns showing a positive variance of 1.2 mkgs which was closely followed by Low Growns with 1.1 mkgs.

The medium elevation teas have improved by 0.8 mkgs month-on-month.

On analysing the January to March tea production figures of 2013, a gain of 6 mkgs was recorded over the corresponding period last year with the Low Grown category leading by 3.4 mkgs followed by High Growns that have shown a gain of 2 mkgs. The Medium Elevation has shown a cumulative growth of 0.5 mkgs.

De Silva said that the crop intake this year will be better compared to last year. Dry weather could have an adverse impact on production. Sri Lanka is one of the largest tea producers in the world and it is the second largest exporter. Kenya is the leading tea exporter in the world.

Industry experts said that the positive trend is likely to be seen in the April crop figures and is expected to continue throughout May as well, due to the favourable cropping conditions that are being experienced in all elevations.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), UK and the Middle east have been Sri Lanka's primary tea markets. Demographic changes have affected its market share.