Cabinet extends financial support program for small tea and rubber plantations

The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved extending the duration of the financial assistance program implemented under the Small Tea and Rubber Estate Revitalisation (STaRR) project till end-2022.

The rural finance program was implemented during the period 2019-2021 for revenue generation and market diversification of targeted beneficiaries under the STaRR project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Post-COVID, the project has not been able to achieve the expected targets and, therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to extend the facility till 31 December. It will benefit tea estate settlers and marginalised small-scale tea producers as well as the rubber smallholders.

The proposal to this effect submitted by Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday.