‘Govt must allow use of weedisides in tea sector’

Sri Lanka Tea Trader’s Association (SLTTA) Chairman, Anslem Perera reiterated the sentiments expressed by Plantations Minister Navin Dissanayake on the use of weedisides for the tea plantations.

He said that unlike some of the other agriculture crops, the tea industry does not use weedisides in big volumes.“The reason is that if you use too much of weedisides it weakens the tea bush.”

Perera explained that if weedisides were not used, manual labour (using mammoties) has to be used which results in natural soil cover of the bush and the root being exposed.When there is rain the root is exposed to rain and weakens the crop. “Hence we agree with the minister that government must allow the use of weedisides.”

He said that due to economic downturn and political violence globally, and with the adverse weather conditions the revenue target of the tea industry will dip.“We were targeting around US$ 1.5 billion revenue far below their expectations.”

Plantations Minister Navin Dissanayake said this situation is now being corrected and today the kilo of tea which was sold at Rs 360 in 2014 is now fetching Rs. 560.

(SS)