Planters’ Chief warns of severe implications from fertiliser ban

• Estimates tea exports will drop 40% in 2022, rubber output will dip 20% 
• Insufficient fertiliser for tea industry, liquified nitrogen released to market yet to be tested
• Calls on Govt. to make a wise decision to save 150-year-old tea industry 
• Asserts plantations will only use verified products from dedicated research institutes 
• Replanting efforts in jeopardy with no fertiliser or alternatives
• Says not responsible for irrational decisions, RPCs cannot bear the financial liability any longer
• Says rubber fungal infection reaching an epidemic similar to ‘coffee rust’ wipe-out in 1800s

By Charumini de Silva

PA Chairman Bathiya Bulumulla

PA Media Spokesman Roshan Rajadurai

Warning far reaching implications from the chemical and agrochemicals ban, and the shortage of suitable fertiliser, the Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) yesterday urged the Government to immediately take a sensible decision to save the economy.

To avoid major loss of foreign exchange earnings and further worsening the crisis with reduced crops and possible wipe-out of rubber plantations due to the fungal disease, the PA called for an immediate suitable, tried and tested alternative for plant nutrition, pest control and weed management. 

“In 2022, experts estimate a 40% drop in tea exports, at a time when foreign currency earnings are of critical importance to the national economy,” PA Chairman Bathiya Bulumulla said at the 167th Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held virtually for the first time due to the pandemic. PA represents Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs).

Bulumulla said that the ban should have ideally been carried out in a phased-out manner with suitable alternatives recommended by the research institutes. 

“All stakeholders agree that with absent sustainable and effective solutions on the fundamental issues of plant nutrition, pest and weed control, there will be no future for our industry. At this point, whether they are organic or inorganic is essentially irrelevant,” said Bulumulla, who was re-elected as PA Chairman for 2021/2022.

He said the fertiliser quantities received so far for the tea sector were insufficient, adding that authorities recently released liquefied nitrogen to the market, which stakeholders are yet to experiment on, compared to usual urea-based fertiliser.

PA Media Spokesman Roshan Rajadurei was hopeful that the authorities will see the ‘big picture’ before Sri Lanka loses its world-class brand.

“Ceylon Tea is a global brand, and once we miss a market, it is gone forever. I think soon or later, the Government will come to their senses and make a wise decision in the interest of the country; 150 years of tea industry which has been a legacy from Ceylon to the world,” he said at the post-AGM media briefing.

Rajadurei said commercial agriculture has been integrated with synthetic, organic and bulk products, adding that it was one of the key reasons why the RPCs were able to maintain the tea bushes despite the climate and soil depletion for over 150 years.

“In the interim, till the Government makes a decision we will go ahead with what we can in our own way,” he said.

Asked if the Government would reverse the current ban, as the organic fertiliser from a Chinese company was suspended after samples tested identified harmful bacteria, Bulumulla hinted it could be possible with a yes and no answer.

“We weren’t dependent on the fertiliser from China. We are continuing our discussions with the Government in resolving this issue, hopeful that the authorities will take a positive approach towards the tea industry in particular,” he said.

 The PA categorically said main export crops – tea, rubber and coconut plantations will not use any uncertain or unverified fertiliser without the approval of the dedicated research institute.

The fertiliser cost is merely 2% of the total earnings from tea exports.

“We spend about $ 30 million to import fertiliser, but we earn at least $ 1.3 billion,” Rajadurei said.

Explaining on the organic agriculture procedure, which has zero presence of any synthetics, he said there is only one local firm which took over 20 years to get to the current status, and is still struggling to keep afloat.

Niche market, many restrictions, certifications process and impracticality from an economic perspective were outlined as three key reasons to leave the organic path, even by large producers such as India and Kenya.

The fungal disease has affected over 20,000 hectares of rubber growing regions, which according to industry veterans is now reaching an epidemic proportion on par with the ‘coffee rust’ blight, which wiped out Sri Lanka’s coffee plantations in the late 1800s.

“One of the key issues in addressing Pestalotiopsis is the lack of necessary fertiliser and the required agrochemicals. Rubber planters have for many months been sounding the alarm over the spread of the fungal infection, but authorities are yet to make a proper move,” he said.

The Rubber Research Institute (RRI) has recommended applying additional inorganic fertiliser. Majority of rubber plantations are managed by smallholders, not commercial growers. 

“By the end of the year, the industry expects an estimated 20% year-on-year (YOY) reduction in output from rubber plantations due to this disease,” he pointed out.

He said all replanting efforts in tea and rubber are also in jeopardy with no fertiliser or alternatives. 

“Tea smallholders – who account for over 70% of total tea production, need fertiliser for their nurseries. The shortage of fertiliser is also going to hinder progress on replanting of rubber, given that the uptake of fertiliser is most crucial when rubber is in the nursery phase. It is therefore imperative that every available solution to resolve this crisis is urgently provided,” he stressed.

“By all these irrational, unscientific decisions on bans will hamper the production in estates and in tandem with low yield, the number of days RPCs can offer to workers too will be reduced. If no immediate actions are taken, the earnings and quality of life of the plantation workers will be impacted severely,” Rajadurei warned.

Over the past decade, the RPCs have struggled to keep up with the rate of wage increases that is imposed by the Government.

“It is a financial liability that the plantations can’t carry on any longer. We have one good year and five bad years. Prices of tea have not increased even remotely. It is a major threat to the industry,” he said, adding that the burden of the decisions cannot be placed on the management for such decisions.

Implications of such a failure have been clearly and painstakingly detailed in forums by the PA since April 2021 to the present day.

“RPCs are among the world’s leaders in organic tea, rubber and spices. Sadly, we are not being consulted for our expertise in the subject, and our concerns are not being heard. Expert opinions are being disregarded. There is no getting around the fact that if we continue on the same path, we as an industry, and as a nation, and the people will face the consequences,” Bulumulla claimed.