Tea production in Sri Lanka explained

Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon) has a climate and varied elevation that allows for the production of both Camellia sinensis var. assamica and Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, with the assamica varietal holding the majority of production. Tea production is one of the main sources of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, and accounts for 2% of GDP, contributing over US$1.3 billion in 2021 to the economy of Sri Lanka.[1] It employs, directly or indirectly, over 1 million people, and in 1995 directly employed 215,338 on tea plantations and estates. In addition, tea planting by smallholders is the source of employment for thousands whilst it is also the main form of livelihood for tens of thousands of families. Sri Lanka is the world's fourth-largest producer of tea. In 1995, it was the world's leading exporter of tea (rather than producer), with 23% of the total world export, and Sri Lanka ranked second on tea export earnings in 2020[2] after China. The highest production of 340 million kg was recorded in 2013, while the production in 2014 was slightly reduced to 338 million kg.[3] India has additionally guaranteed Sri Lanka a shipment of 65,000 metric tons of urea. Sri Lanka's troubled execution of an organic agriculture initiative had pushed the country perilously close to an agricultural crisis. Given the surge in global fertilizer prices, it is improbable that Sri Lanka could procure fertilizer at prevailing market rates.[4]

The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall of the country's central highlands provide a climate that favors the production of high-quality tea. On the other hand, tea produced in low-elevation areas such as Matara, Galle, and Ratanapura districts with high rainfall and warm temperature has a high level of astringent properties. The tea biomass production itself is higher in low-elevation areas. Such tea is popular in the Middle East. Sri Lanka produces mostly orthodox black teas but also produces CTC, white and green teas. The two types of green tea produced are the gunpowder type and sencha. The industry was introduced to the country in 1867 by James Taylor, a British planter who arrived in 1852.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Tea planting under smallholder conditions has become popular in the 1970s. Most of Sri Lanka's export market is in the Middle East and Europe but there are also plenty of bidders worldwide for its specialty high-country-grown Nuwara Eliya teas.[12]

History

The total population of Sri Lanka according to the census of 1871 was 2,584,780. The 1871 demographic distribution and population in the plantation areas are given below:[13]

1871 demographic distribution
DistrictTotal populationNo. of estatesEstate population% of population on estates
258,432 625 81,476
129,000 130 15,555
71,724 111 13,052
105,287 403,790
92,277 37 3,227
36,184 21308
207,885 212,393
143,379 111,072

Growth and history of commercial production

Registered tea production by elevation

Registered tea production in hectares and total square miles by elevation category in Sri Lanka, 1959–2000:

YearHigh altitude hectaresMedium altitude hectaresLow altitude hectaresTotal hectaresTotal square miles
195974,581 66,711 46,101 187,393 187393disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196079,586 69,482 48,113 197,181 197181disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196176,557 97,521 63,644 237,722 237722disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196276,707 97,857 64,661 239,225 239225disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196376,157 95,691 65,862 237,710 237710disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196481,538 92,281 65,759 239,578 239578disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196587,345 92,806 60,365 240,516 240516disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196687,514 93,305 60,563 241,382 241382disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196787,520 93,872 60,945 242,337 242337disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196881,144 99,359 61,292 241,795 241795disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
196981,092 98,675 61,616 241,383 241383disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197077,549 98,624 65,625 241,798 241798disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197177,936 98,624 65,625 242,185 242185disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197277,639 98,252 65,968 241,859 241859disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197377,793 98,165 66,343 242,301 242301disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197477,693 97,875 66,622 242,190 242190disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197579,337 98,446 64,099 241,882 241882disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197679,877 94,338 66,363 240,578 240578disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197779,653 94,835 67,523 242,011 242011disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197879,628 95,591 68,023 243,242 243242disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
197978,614 97,084 68,401 244,099 244099disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198078,786 96,950 68,969 244,705 244705disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198178,621 96,853 69,444 244,918 244918disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198277,769 96,644 67,728 242,141 242141disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198371,959 90,272 67,834 230,065 230065disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198474,157 90,203 63,514 227,874 227874disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198574,706 89,175 67,769 231,650 231650disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198673,206 85,216 64,483 222,905 222905disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198772,773 84,445 64,280 221,498 221498disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198872,901 84,227 64,555 221,683 221683disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
198973,110 84,062 64,938 222,110 222110disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199073,138 83,223 65,397 221,758 221758disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199173,331 82,467 65,893 221,691 221691disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199274,141 85,510 62,185 221,836 221836disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199451,443 56,155 79,711 187,309 187309disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199551,443 56,155 79,711 187,309 187309disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199652,272 56,863 79,836 188,971 188971disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199751,444 58,155 79,711 189,310 189310disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
199851,444 58,155 79,711 189,310 189310disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
200052,272 56,863 79,836 188,971 188971disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only

Main destination of Sri Lankan teas

The most important foreign markets for Sri Lankan tea are the former Soviet bloc countries of the CIS, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UK, Egypt, Libya and Japan.[14]

The most important foreign markets for Sri Lankan tea are as follows, in terms of millions of kilograms and millions of pounds imported. The figures were recorded in 2000:

Total Exports
Country Million kilograms Million pounds Total Percent
57.6 57.6disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
48.1 48.1disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
Russia46.1 46.1disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
21.5 21.5disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
20.3 20.3disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
12.5 12.5disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
11.4 11.4disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
11.1 11.1disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
UK10.2 10.2disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
10.1 10.1disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
10.0 10disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
Japan8.3 8.3disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
Germany5.0 5disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
Others 23.7 23.7disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only
Total 288 288disp=output number onlyNaNdisp=output number only

Revenue Statistics

YearTotal Export Revenue of Tea (in million. US$) [15]
2019 $1,346
2020 $1,241
2021 $1,324
2022 $1,258

Branding

See main article: Ceylon tea. The Sri Lanka Tea Board is the legal proprietor of the lion logo of Ceylon tea. The logo has been registered as a trademark in many countries. To appear the Lion logo on a tea pack, it must meet four criteria.

  1. The Lion Logo can only be used on consumer packs of Ceylon tea.
  2. The packs must contain 100 percent of pure Ceylon tea.
  3. The packaging should be done only in Sri Lanka.
  4. The brands which employ the Lion logo should meet the quality standards set by the Sri Lanka Tea Board.[16]

The logo is considered to be a "known sign of high quality" around the world.[17] The Sri Lanka Tea board signed an agreement to sponsor Sri Lanka national cricket team and Sri Lanka women's national cricket team in their overseas tours for US$4 million for three years.[18]

Research

The Tea Research Institute

The Tea Research Ordinance was enacted by Parliament in 1925 and the Tea Research Institute (TRI) was founded. It is at present the only national body in the country that generates and disseminates new research and technology related to the processing and cultivation of tea.[19]

Beginning in the early 1970s, two researchers from the National Institute of Dental Research in Bethesda, Maryland, USA conducted a series of research projects in which they arranged a longitudinal study group of a large number of Tamil tea labourers who worked at the Dunsinane and Harrow Tea Estates, 50miles from Kandy. This landmark study was possible because the population of tea labourers were known to have never employed any conventional oral hygiene measures, thereby providing some insight into the natural history of periodontal disease in man.[20]

Sustainability standards and certifications

There are several organisations, both international and local, that promote and enforce sustainability standards and certifications about tea in Sri Lanka.

Among the international organisations that operate within Sri Lanka are Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, UTZ Certified, and Ethical Tea Partnership.The Small Organic Farmers’ Association (SOFA) is a local organisation dedicated to organic farming.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nadeera. Dilshan. Lankan tea exports earned $ 1.3 Bn in 2021. 2022-02-01. en-US. 6 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230306093613/http://island.lk/lankan-tea-exports-earned-1-3-bn-in-2021/. live.
  2. Web site: Leading tea exporting countries worldwide in 2020. 22 September 2021. 31 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230131211144/https://www.statista.com/statistics/264189/main-export-countries-for-tea-worldwide/. live.
  3. Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2014, Annual Report, http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/pics_n_docs/10_pub/_docs/efr/annual_report/AR2014/English/content.htm
  4. Web site: Indian Assistance to Sri Lanka: Lifeline or Chokehold? . 2023-09-21 . thediplomat.com . en-US . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601104215/https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/indian-assistance-to-sri-lanka-lifeline-or-chokehold/ . live .
  5. Web site: TED Case Studies – Ceylon Tea. American University, Washington, DC. 2013-11-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20150223084443/http://www1.american.edu/ted/ceylon-tea.htm. 2015-02-23. live.
  6. News: Sri Lanka tops tea sales. BBC. 1 February 2002. 28 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080503062703/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1796478.stm. 3 May 2008. live.
  7. Web site: Sri Lanka Tea Tour. The Tea Association of the USA. August 11–17, 2003. 2008-04-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20110417064040/http://www.teausa.com/general/teatour.cfm%20. 2011-04-17. live.
  8. Web site: Role of Tea in Development in Sri Lanka. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006175302/http://www.unescap.org/drpad/publication/integra/volume3/srilanka/3sr01a.htm. 2008-10-06.
  9. News: South Asia Help for Sri Lanka's tea industry. BBC News. April 4, 1999. April 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090630071858/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/311663.stm. June 30, 2009. live.
  10. News: Sri Lanka moves to protect tea industry. BBC News. 19 February 2003. 5 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080407050641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2779267.stm. 7 April 2008. live.
  11. News: Just 64p a day for tea pickers in Sri Lanka. BBC News. 20 September 2005. 5 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090630035423/http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2005/09/12/jenny_august.shtml. 30 June 2009. live.
  12. Book: Smith, Krisi. World Atlas of Tea. Mitchell Beazley. 2016. 978-1-78472-124-4. Great Britain. 157. English.
  13. Web site: Holsinger, Monte. Thesis on the History of Ceylon Tea. 2002. History of Ceylon Tea. April 25, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090619083939/http://www.historyofceylontea.com/feature-articles.asp. June 19, 2009.
  14. Web site: February 1, 2002. Sri Lanka tops tea sales. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20040502232814/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1796478.stm. May 2, 2004. April 25, 2009. BBC.
  15. Web site: Merchandize exports reached US$ 13 Bn in 2022. Ada Derana. 31 Jan 2023. 6 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230306093645/http://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/merchandize-exports-reached-us-13-bn-in-2022/. live.
  16. Web site: Tea from Sri Lanka . Sri Lanka Export Development Board . 27 March 2021 . 30 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210630141026/https://www.srilankabusiness.com/pdf/tea-ebrochures-1.pdf . live .
  17. Web site: Johnsson, S. . The green gold from Sri Lanka . 27 March 2021 . Linnaeus University . 43 . 23 May 2016 . 1 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211101164615/https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:971300/FULLTEXT01.pdf . live .
  18. Web site: Ceylon Tea – The Official Overseas Sponsor of Sri Lanka Cricket . srilankateaboard.lk . Sri Lanka Tea Board . 27 March 2021 . 7 January 2015 . 5 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221105095156/http://www.srilankateaboard.lk/index.php/the-official-overseas-sponser-of-sri-lanka-cricket . dead .
  19. http://www.tri.lk/tri/tri/7 Who we are
  20. Löe, H, et al. Natural history of periodontal disease in humans. J Clin Perio 1986;13:431–440.