The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Answer tabled:

¶ 03 (a) (i) and export income (indicative summary)

¶ 04 Year — Production (million kg) — Export income (LKR mn) — Export income (USD mn) 2015 — 329 — 182,046 — 1,340 2016 — 293 — 184,778 — 1,269 2017 — 308 — 233,338 — 1,530 2018 — 304 — 231,750 — 1,428 2019 — 300 — 240,637 — 1,346 2020 — 279 — 230,170 — 1,241 2021 — 299 — 263,353 — 1,324 2022 — 252 — 411,055 — 1,559 2023 — 256 — 428,292 — 1,310 2024 — 263 — 433,473 — 1,436

¶ 05 (ii) Sri Lanka’s rank in international tea exports (by year) 2015 — 3 2016 — 3 2017 — 3 2018 — 3 2019 — 3 2020 — 3 2021 — 3 2022 — 3 2023 — 3 2024 — 4

¶ 06 (iii) Measures: - Formulation of the National Plantation Policy: Drafted and referred to the National Planning Department. Focus areas include adoption of modern agronomic practices, research, development and technological advancement to enhance productivity and quality, thereby increasing tea sector output and efficiency. - Objectives include greater contribution to GDP, sustainable and responsible management in the plantation sector protecting environment and communities, and ensuring national economic growth. Eight strategic themes have been framed to implement the policy: 01. Crop production and resource management 02. Research and development 03. Value chain development and value addition 04. Marketing, trade and entrepreneurship development 05. Climate resilience and risk mitigation 06. Stakeholder empowerment 07. Occupational health and social protection 08. Policy and governance - Preparation of the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan targeting production of 400 million kg and export earnings of USD 2.5 billion by 2029. - Ongoing/Planned projects and programmes by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, Tea Research Institute and National Institute of Plantation Management to ensure sustainability and improve productivity, including: 01. Implementing 500 model villages to increase production 02. Product diversification and development of new markets 03. R&D for premium and high-demand specialty teas: develop suitable cultivars, safe processing protocols, reduce microbial loads, and research required machinery/technology 04. Extension services: training, field problem-solving, analytical services, and supply of planting materials of new cultivars 05. Direct tea cultivation support projects 06. Replanting programmes with emphasis on mechanization 07. Nursery projects for quality plants 08. Micro water supply projects to mitigate climate impacts 09. Establishing live shade (low and high shade) to reduce climatic stress 10. Fertilizer co-subsidy for tea smallholders 11. Friendly leaf-plucking groups and equipment rental centres 12. Subsidy to purchase plastic crates and nylon bags for leaf transport for factories and green leaf dealers 13. Factory modernization: support and incentives to install modern machinery and improve quality 14. Training programmes for extension officers 15. Tea value chain management programme 16. Reorganization and commercialization of smallholder tea organizations 17. Quality monitoring of made tea by TRI and SLTB 18. Awareness and assistance to improve green leaf standard 19. Support for new planting, replanting and infilling; promoting good agricultural practices 20. Provision of facilities for quality improvement (e.g., certification) 21. Introducing alternative energy systems to reduce production cost 22. Implementing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in factories 23. Introducing IoT technologies 24. Promoting value-added and specialty tea 25. Establishing a data system for evidence-based decision-making and value-chain governance

¶ 07 (b) Not applicable.