By Sunimalee Dias
Source : Sunday Times – Sunday, September 01, 2024
Sri Lanka’s tea industry has established a new standard in a bid to improve the quality of the world’s only Ceylon Tea. This is through collaboration with Unilever Pepsi for funding the project on regenerative agriculture to achieve the Code for Ceylon Tea. The Pepsi Lipton Tea partnership is a joint venture between PepsiCo and Unilever.
Colombo Tea Traders Association (CTTA) Chairman Sanjaya Herath told The Sunday Times Business that this new international standard will supersede all other standards pertaining to sustainability.
It was pointed out that it was high time that the industry seriously took stock of engaging in regenerative agriculture and along with that they should bring in the required standards.
He noted that while this is already possible on the plantations of the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), it is the smallholders that will find it difficult to meet these standards.
In this respect, Mr. Herath noted that the industry will be carrying out an educational drive with the aim of creating awareness among the growers so as to increase production and retain a high quality for the product.
Sri Lanka’s tea production levels have been dropping over the years and have now reached around 250 million kg per annum and in fact this year as well quantities produced have been marginally lower than the previous year.
As a result the industry has observed that they need to rejuvenate the plantations as they are heading towards a much larger crisis than simply the lack of fertiliser as there has been inadequate replanting.
Mr. Herath explained that in this context they need to carry out replanting on an extensive level that is a “costly affair” as they would have to incur a cost of Rs.2.5 million per acre. Replanting will take a three and a half year period for the crop to gain fruition.
This requires international donors to engage in an aggressive replanting campaign to ensure the soil is rejuvenated.
With most markets globally seeing a drive by consumers to purchase sustainably produced products, Ceylon Tea will be no exception and as a result this new Sustainability Code will be able to achieve this end once replanting is carried out and the estates engage in internationally accepted practices that will produce a sustainably viable product.
In this respect, the industry hopes to also ensure that the suitable legislation will also be brought in to ensure quality of the end product.
With a view to assisting the industry the Unilever Pepsi company has assured its support to the sector for the next three years to revive the quality and give a boost to the industry in its drive towards regenerative agricultural practices, CTTA Chairman said.
These practices will ultimately ensure the goal of achieving a Code for Ceylon Tea that will be the new standard that has been worked on with the assistance of the Plantation Ministry, it was stated.
This has been outlined in the roadmap for 2030 and beyond that will ensure Ceylon Tea will become a sustainable product in years to come. Unilever has also agreed to provide funding for the certification as well, Mr. Herath said.
Asia Siyaka Brokers MD Anil Cooke said this new certification standard has been made public this week and will be open for public comments.
He noted that this is a progressive step taken by the industry to establish a national standard in the production processes of Ceylon Tea to the world.
Plans are underway to ensure that it will be completed by the end of the year.
This has been established together with the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and once implemented will send the message to the world that this is what Ceylon Tea is all about, Mr. Cooke explained.