Plantation industry believes govt. will change course on fertiliser
Sri Lanka’s plantation industry believes the government will reverse its ban on chemical fertiliser as it is a key revenue generator bringing in the necessary foreign exchange it requires at this critical juncture.
“We have not stopped our dialogue with the government and we hope they will take a positive look and consider it wise to change this decision,” Planters Association (PA) Chairman Bhatiya Bulumulla said at a media briefing held after the conclusion of the virtual AGM held on Thursday.
He noted that the authorities were likely to change their decision considering the fact that this is a key revenue and foreign exchange generator to the economy.
Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) are among the world’s leading producers of inorganic teas, but sadly their opinions are not consulted and expert opinion is disregarded, Mr. Bulumulla stressed in his speech addressing the 167th AGM of the PA.
He noted the consequences of the lack of fertiliser to a severe loss in crop with estimates for 2022 expected to reduce tea exports by at least 40 per cent.
“Early next year we will see this reduction if inputs are not given on time,” he explained adding that the only way to avoid this situation is to provide tried and tested plant nutrition, pest control and weed management. But the alternative fertiliser inputs must be in conformity to the Maximum Residue Levels in the export destinations.
Mr. Bulumulla stressed that looking back at how the industry lost markets when the glyphosate ban was imposed in the country, lost markets “are extremely difficult to recapture”.
Meanwhile, similar to the wipe-out of the coffee plantations in Sri Lanka (some 150 years ago), the country’s rubber plantations are today facing a crisis with about 20,000 hectares of rubber “badly affected” by a fungal disease called Pestalotiopsis, which according to industry veterans is reaching epidemic proportion on par with the ‘coffee rust’ blight, Mr. Bulumulla said.
“We see a retardation of growth,” he explained adding that if the disease is not treated it could spread and it is very critical.
In this respect, should the plants not receive the needed necessary chemicals to treat the disease and the fertiliser in time it could prove disastrous to these plantations, it was pointed out.
RPCs are today making crop diversifications into strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, avocado and cinnamon among others, he said.
PA spokesman Dr. Roshan Rajadurai said, “I don’t think plantations will apply uncertain and unverified (fertiliser) without the green light from the research institutions.”
Commenting on the production of organic teas, Dr. Rajadurai pointed out that organic or herbal tea is very pricey and this sector after 20 years still cannot break into the market.
“India and Sri Lanka have experimented but it is not economically viable and it does not make business sense,” he explained.