Tea smallholders given grants

The government has provided financial assistance to tea smallholders affected by the adverse weather conditions during May this year.

In this regard, Rs.250,000 has been given as a grant to the tea smallholders for loss of crop and a further Rs.250,000 for replanting, Federation of Tea Smallholders President Neville Ratnayaka told the Business Times.

These monies had been issued to smallholders impacted by the floods in May this year in the Galle and Kalutara districts, he said.

Six districts namely Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Hambantota, Gampaha and Ratnapura were affected by the floods this year as a result of which the crops of the smallholders were adversely affected. Mr. Ratnayaka pointed out that while the tea market is currently performing in a “stable position” the climatic changes were creating problems. Tea smallholders comprise about 70 per cent of the tea exports of Sri Lanka.