US$ 3.8 bn export income from tea, rubber, coconut and cinnamon exports | Daily News

US$ 3.8 bn export income from tea, rubber, coconut and cinnamon exports

Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana yesterday said the country has gained an income of US$ 3.8 billion from tea, rubber, coconut and cinnamon exports last year and export income from tea alone is US$ 1.3 billion despite various challenges. He was of the view that the export crop industry was severely hit by the fertilizer shortage. 

He said that issues faced by the tea industry will be sorted out soon

The Minister added that farmers have now got the advantage of the devaluation of rupee against the dollar. Accordingly, the price of a kilo of tea leaver which was at Rs. 80 to 85 in Galle district in December 2019 has now gone up to Rs.250 and 290 rupees. “At one instance, a kilo of tea leave has gone up to Rs. 410 which is the highest ever price for a kilo of tea leaves.

He was speaking at the inauguration of an awareness drive to educate those involved in the tea industry about quality tea picking and production process, at Apegama premises in Battaramulla yesterday. The Minister said that tea industry is being streamlined to draw more foreign revenue

The programme was organized jointly by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Tea Research Institute and Small Tea Estate Development Authority.

 


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