Sri Lanka Tea Plantations Industry - To diversify or not?

Abstract

Introducing and growing the species Camellia sinensis, notably by James Taylor, planting along the margins of the divisional roads on his coffeeestate, finally 'saved the day' for the colonial economy and the Planter's Association in Ceylon when the coffee plantations, the foundation of the economy, were wiped out due to the coffee blight. Despite the deforestation caused, the Tea plantations prospered introducing 'Ceylon Tea', now well known around the world. The Tea Plantations Industry is now reported to be nonviable. Considering its importance to the economy of Sri Lanka, an implementable solution is needed to make it viable and vibrant once again to achieve high productivity from agricultural land under Tea. Analysing the available published data and information describing the problem indicates the answer lies in any form of diversification of uneconomical Tea. Diversifying with the species, Pentadesmabutyracea has potentialto increase exports and reduce imports ensuring benefits to all stakeholders and especially to the environment. Pentadesma oil extracted from the seeds of the species will be of interest at a time when it is necessary to avoid partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils which produces undesirable trans-fatty acids.