Friday Nov 22, 2024
Friday Nov 22, 2024
Monday, 21 June 2021 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The country’s tea crop in January to May has hit a three-year peak whilst select elevations have reached new recent highs, but the industry is concerned over future production owing to the fertiliser crisis.
Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC said the tea crop in the first five months of 2021 was 134.7 million kgs, up 30.7% from the corresponding period of last year.
Asia said High Grown production for the first five months was at 30.1 million kgs, the best since 2018, when a figure of 31.3 million kgs was achieved.
Mid Growns have reached a six-year high for the five months with a production of 23.3 million kgs.
“This is the best since 2015, when Mid Grown production was 23.4 million kgs,” the produce broker added.
It said Low Grown production for the period January-May at 81.2 million kgs is the highest since 2019, when a figure of 82 million kgs was achieved.
In 2020, a severe first quarter drought and fertiliser application issues in Q4 2019 limited tea production to 53 million kgs, the lowest figure in 12 years.
“This year’s tea production has recovered to a great extent, thanks to much better weather and improved application of fertiliser,” Asia said.
It said all tea producers are deeply concerned about production over the next six months due to uncertainty about the availability of fertiliser and agro chemicals to continue normal agricultural practices.
“A further aspect is timely availability of these critical inputs as Sri Lanka has experienced very fickle weather conditions in recent years,” Asia said.
It said marketers too are uncertain of supply of Ceylon tea during the peak winter export season starting from July.
“June tea production has been good though quality had declined; these teas are coming up for sale in the same month with carry over volume available in to July,” Asia said.
