Colombo (LNW): Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has directed the Smallholder Tea Development Authority and the Tea Development Authority to encourage the adoption of high-density cultivation methods and new technology in tea cultivation to enhance tea leaf yields.
During an observation visit to a successful seven-and-a-half-acre high-density tea plantation in Welipanna Peragaswatta, the Minister emphasised the benefits of this approach, allowing for the planting of 13,000 tea plants per acre and yielding 1500 kg of tea leaves, five times more than traditional methods.
He urged the promotion of this technique to increase income and announced plans to expand such projects in 2024, aligning with the President’s vision for technology integration in agriculture and plantation sectors.
Financial assistance of Rs. 1 million per acre has been provided to growers for these model tea cultivation projects.
Amaraweera’s directive aims to optimise land use and maximise tea yield through innovative methods.
