Sri Lanka’s tea industry stakeholders have expressed a collective concern for the industry due to the potential impact on the yield and pricing of the crop. He said that the nitrogen required by tea plants comes from urea and is a byproduct of fossil fuels like petroleum. He explained that using organic fertilisers can increase the price of Sri Lankan tea, leading to the country losing its price advantage. Speaking for local tea exporters, Tea Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka (TEA) Chairman Sanjaya Herath agreed with Bulumulla, noting that a loss in production will also mean a loss in revenue. “The world tea production is increasing and we need to be competitive.

Source: The Nation July 31, 2021 17:26 UTC